The Port of Los Angeles will extend its Clean Truck Fund fee for another three years in a continued effort to cut emissions and support the transition to zero-emission (ZE) trucks. Approved unanimously by the harbor commission on May 22, the $10-per-container fee will remain in place, though some commissioners suggested it may need reassessment in the near future.
What Is the Clean Truck Fund?
The Clean Truck Fund was launched in April 2022 as part of the port’s Clean Truck Program. The initiative collects a $10 fee for every 20-foot-equivalent unit (TEU) transported by diesel-powered drayage trucks. For larger containers, the fee is $20. The goal is to use these funds to support truck operators in acquiring ZE trucks, which are significantly more expensive than traditional diesel models, and to develop the necessary charging and fueling infrastructure.
So far, the program has collected approximately $123 million and allocated $93 million of that toward ZE truck incentives and infrastructure projects. Over the next three years, the port anticipates generating an additional $120 million, depending on cargo volume and ZE truck adoption.
A Needed but Controversial Policy
While the extension of the fee was unanimously approved, commissioners voiced concerns about how the fee is impacting the trucking workforce. Commissioner Ed Renwick raised a longstanding issue: although the fee is officially paid by beneficial cargo owners (retailers and importers), he fears that the cost may ultimately be passed down to truck drivers, many of whom are recent immigrants and sole earners making less than $51,000 per year.
“This is a terrible policy,” Renwick said, calling for a broader review to determine whether the fee’s financial burden is falling unfairly on low-income drivers.
Commissioner John Pérez echoed the need for a policy review but supported the renewal of the fee as a necessary step in the short term. He noted that while the program has raised significant funds, it may not be sufficient to make a meaningful dent in ZE truck market transformation without further investment or a rate increase in the future.
Current Progress and Challenges
According to Port Executive Director Gene Seroka, the Clean Truck Fund is part of a “short-term strategy to maximize results” in cutting emissions. As of now, there are 546 ZE trucks operating at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, with many of those purchases supported by Clean Truck Fund vouchers or other governmental incentives.
Despite this progress, the port’s ZE transition remains a work in progress. With approximately 20,000 trucks servicing both ports, the current ZE fleet represents only a small fraction of the total. The high cost of ZE trucks and limited availability of infrastructure are still major obstacles to full adoption.
As the port continues to implement its Clean Truck Program, leadership is balancing the urgency of environmental goals with the financial realities facing truck drivers and operators. A full policy review in the coming years may shape the next phase of this ambitious emissions-reduction initiative.
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