Industry News

Released: July 21, 2011

Court Rules Against Port of Long Beach Clean Trucks Plan

A federal district court judge has ruled that the Port of Long Beach violated California environmental law when it altered its clean trucks program without first performing a required environmental review, according to the Long Beach Press-Telegram. U.S. District Court Judge Christina Snyder ruled in favor of a lawsuit brought by the Natural Resources Defense Council that said the port's action violated the California Environmental Quality Act. NRDC argued that a settlement agreement reached in October 2009 between the American Trucking Associations and the Port of Long Beach weakened the clean trucks program by not requiring environmental analysis under the CEQA. Industry observers say Snyder's order is more procedural than anything else, and that this judge has approved the registration agreement that will remain in place. Snyder has also been involved in the ongoing clean trucks program at the neighboring Port of Los Angeles, over that port's attempted ban on independent owner-operators. That ban is opposed by ATA, which earlier this year asked an appeals court to reverse Snyder's September decision that the port had the right to ban independent operators. NASSTRAC has gone on record to support ATA's position.

> View NASSTRAC Position Paper on Clean Truck Programs at Ports

 

DOT Freight Index Rises 1.4% In May

The Department of Transportation reported recently its freight transportation services index rose 1.4% in May from a year ago. The freight TSI slipped 1.8% month-to-month from April, DOT's Bureau of Trade Statistics said in its monthly report. The index's reading is 105.6, compared with a baseline 100 reading in the year 2000. Freight shipments have declined in three of the past four months, but remain up 12% since May 2009. Freight shipments are down 5.6% in the five years from May 2006, though shipments are up 5.9% from May 2001. The freight TSI is a seasonally adjusted monthly index measuring the output of services provided by the for-hire transportation industries, including railroad, air, truck, inland waterways, pipeline and local transit.

 

NASSTRAC Announces Call for Nominations for 2011 Shipper of the Year Award

If your company has applied a unique or effective transportation strategy, you now have an opportunity to promote your best practices to the industry at large. Nominations are now being accepted for the 2011 NASSTRAC Shipper of the Year. "It's an excellent way to gain industry-wide recognition and to promote the good work of your company," said Brian Everett, Executive Director. "It's also NASSTRAC's way to encourage and recognize best practices in transportation."

> Details on the nomination process

 

FreightAdvocacy.org Web Site Helps Shippers Take Action on Freight Advocacy Issues

Federal and state authorities continue to consider and adopt initiatives that have a direct impact on transportation and supply chain. As one of its primary missions, NASSTRAC continues to be a leader in opposing unwise or excessively burdensome regulation in such areas as security, global trade, and workforce and operational requirements. To help accomplish this mission, last month NASSTRAC launched a new web site, www.FreightAdvocacy.org, which helps educate shippers on key transportation issues, keeps them updated on advocacy developments, and ultimately provides them with the means by which they can quickly and efficiently communicate concerns to the appropriate government officials.

> For more information, visit FreightAdvocacy.org.

 

Shippers Encouraged to Reach Out To Congress Representatives on Hours Of Service

As a NASSTRAC member, you're likely aware of recent proposed changes by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration in current truck driver hours of service rules. Clearly, changes to the current rules will result in increased costs, negatively impact an already significantly driver shortage, and ultimately reduce trucking industry productivity. If you haven't already done so, make sure to take advantage of the new NASSTRAC advocacy HOS campaign using a letter template that will allow you to quickly and easily articulate your concerns to your individual members of Congress.

> Encourage Your Congress Reps to Vote "No" to Changes on HOS

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