Protesting truckers create gridlock on Long Beach Freeway and downtown L.A. [Updated]

Scores of protesting truck drivers are slowing traffic on the Long Beach Freeway this morning, flashing their lights and hoping to raise attention about new environmental fees at the ports that they say threaten their livelihoods.

Up to 100 trucks are driving northbound on the 710, and are north of the San Diego Freeway, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Francisco Villalobos. The CHP was not told in advance about the protest, and is sending units to monitor it.

According to the National Port Drivers Assn., the caravan of trucks is driving from the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports – among the largest in the world – to Los Angeles City Hall. They are protesting new container fees contained in the Clean Truck Program that they say are hurting independent truckers’ income.

Commuters might want to consider alternative routes, such as the 605 Freeway.

[Updated at 10:17 a.m.: The truck caravan has reached downtown Los Angeles. Truck drivers, who are circling City Hall, are honking their horns and protesters on the sidewalk are waving signs. The LAPD is urging drivers to avoid the area.

While the CHP said 100 trucks were involved, some witnesses have said the number is actually much higher.

Traffic on the 710 South is expected to be jammed as the convoy goes back to the port.]

-- Seema Mehta

Photo: (Top) Protesting truckers pass Los Angeles City Hall. Credit: Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times (Bottom) A caravan of trucks on the Long Beach Freeway this morning. Credit: Shelby Grad / Los Angeles Times

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Comments

[Daniel Baca]

Clean Air we all agree on. Lets raise some eyebrows on port operations that is what they are really pissed off about. they are averaging about 3 hours per transaction. Now, with having to sell their 2007 older trucks and having to pay a lease on a company truck and cover all expenses on that truck they are making only one trip per day. Some drivers end up having a debt at the end of the day!

[Daniel Baca]

Clean Air we all agree on. Lets raise some eyebrows on port operations that is what they are really pissed off about. they are averaging about 3 hours per transaction. Now, with having to sell their 2007 older trucks and having to pay a lease on a company truck and cover all expenses on that truck they are making only one trip per day. Some drivers end up having a debt at the end of the day!

[TheBigPicture]

Why not send CHP units to monitor/video/cite and prepare disturbing the peace indictments for everyone involved. If they want to protest something, they should notify the authorities and walk a picket line like everyone else...Those guys are normally so whacked out on meth, I'm surprised they could even drive slow...

Not a good way to get sympathy for your cause by disturbing working persons commute...Support tends to go the other way...

[Tornadoes28]

They should all have their licenses revoked and be arrested.

[Tom]

...Because there's no better way to get people to side with you than royally pissing them off.

[El Guapo de la cuidad de los angeles]

Thanks truckers for ruining everyone's day!

[Sergio]

I wonder what Tom, TheBigPicture(more like narrow-minded picture) & Tornadoes28? do for a living?

[LDM]

WOW I'm not a truck driver nor do I really know any but you people are ruthless! Don’t get mad at them because they have a big truck and your car is no compaition. Let’s go to each and every one of your jobs and tax you guys for using a computer, a tool or whatever you have to do in order to get your job done. I mean if this is a way to get the attention they need I am behind them. You people complaining about being stuck in traffic are silly your stuck anyways!!! Duh leave your house earlier!!!!

[Warren]

Can't they pass the fee on to thier customers?

[Eric of Reseda]

Hey! Truckers have to eat too! But "global warming" isn't some Leftist tree-hugger scheme to usher in Socialism. And it isn't a problem far, far away. Everybody has got to sacrifice, change the way they do business and consume...AND transport. The ports and the trucks that serve them are no exception. Whether it's drought, L.A.'s status as a UHI (Urban Heat Island. The heat being produced in this city, among other things, can actually repel rain), or the increasing cost of fires and firefighting we will see, the effects of warming - and air pollution - are happening HERE, in L.A., in the Southland. And the economy is NOT more important than the environment. So, if the economy suffers, if truckers have to struggle and we have to pay more for goods and services, so be it. It's the mess we created, the one we'll have to solve if our kids and theirs are to inherit an earth they can live on.

[Hairy Carrion]

I'm all for environmental solutions. Better air, cleaner air, clean water, clean food, less pollution. Yep. All of it. The people who have to breathe the crap we put into the air along the freeway corridors suffer greatly with respiratory issues.

That being said, those ships that come into the ports are even filthier than the trucks. Trains are filthy too. So are airplanes. All of these dump more crap into the air than we realize.

I think the truckers are entitled to make a fair living. However, I believe we need reasonable solutions that don't penalize the workers, but rather change the entire paradigm to the way we do business.

[Jack Corson]

"Whacked out on meth..."-WOW, what an accusation! I'm not even sure what to say to that other than I wonder what planet you live on. I hope you are sued for slander.

"Can't they pass the fee on to thier customers? "-Because the cost of goods isn't already high enough?!?! Maybe you forgot that the customer is us?

The container fee is a ridiculous idea that will do absolutely nothing to curb pollution. What it will do is create another revenue source for the City to draw money from; consider it a tax hike on EVERYTHING you purchase!

[Jack]

I feel for these truckers. Unfortunately their protests will most probably fall on the deaf ears of the idiotic state legislators in this once great state.

[Marie]

Go truckers!! We are behind you. The go green scam is beginning to show its true color: red.

[Brian]

I guess this is the thanks our city gets for enduring the extra pollution, headaches and outright danger that come from sharing the roads with these guys.

[Big Nasty]

Everyone has had to deal with increased taxes and fees in almost every segment of society. Interrupting the commute of other working people is not a reasonable way to draw support to your cause. Protest through your union or as others have pointed out, hold a normal protest outside city hall after alerting the authorities. Just because you drive a big truck does not give you the right to use it as part of a protest to get what you want especially when your protest is interrupting the public's use of city streets and freeways.

[Sabio]

The LA and Long Beach ports are the single largest source of pollution, smog and carcinogens in the Southern California air. I know container fee increases suck, but so does death from lung cancer.

These truckers are really just mad that they might eventually have to switch from being independent contractors to working for a trucking company... and while that also sucks, just about everyone else has to work for a company for their livelihood. At least the clean truck program requires those companies to pay a better wage.

They are protesting change, but in this case it needs to come for the betterment of everyone else.

[frustrated]

Seems like a reasonable counter protest should be for the kids and their parents with asthma and other lung diseases down near the ports to march in front of the port entrances to slow down truckers' operations.

Of course this would hurt the many truckers and port operators who are making a good effort to reduce pollution. The truckers should be protesting the companies they ship for that pay such low wages to them, not the government that is trying to protect public health.

[Mr. Roberts]

"Compaition" is not even a word.
Anyway, it only makes sense to tax these people on using products that are outdated. It is the same as using outdates appliances. Older products waste more energy which leads to more pollution. It is all very black and white.

Why not get out nation, which is by far the least environmentally forward for any nation of power, in the fashion of making the use of resources and energy efficient? This is something that has to be done. If there were no tax, the truck drivers would NEVER choose to purchase more fuel efficient, or even retrofit, trucks unless they broke down. They need to understand that ground transportation is THE greatest consumer of fossil fuels in the nation, and with their trucks are creating problems that are essentially irreversible, something must be done.

As everyone has said, I don't see how they are buying our affection by blocking the roads and creating more traffic problems Downtown and on the freeways, like Los Angeles needs more of that.

[Mahmoud]

Honking your horn in this matter is illegal. Cite them and arrest them for unlawful assembly.

[PAUL OLIVAS]

Great move truckers, you have my backing . I'm sure there are a lot of people that support you. stay strong

[Mr. Roberts]

"Compaition" is not even a word.
Anyway, it only makes sense to tax these people on using products that are outdated. It is the same as using outdates appliances. Older products waste more energy which leads to more pollution. It is all very black and white.

Why not get out nation, which is by far the least environmentally forward for any nation of power, in the fashion of making the use of resources energy efficient? This is something that has to be done. If there were no tax, the truck drivers would NEVER choose to purchase more fuel efficient, or even retrofit, trucks unless they broke down. They need to understand that ground transportation is THE greatest consumer of fossil fuels in the nation, and with their trucks creating environmental health issues that are essentially irreversible, something must be done.

As everyone has said, I don't see how they are buying our affection by blocking the roads and creating more traffic problems Downtown and on the freeways, like Los Angeles needs more of that.

[Daniel Baca]

SELFISH, SELFISH, SELFISH, THAT IS ALL YOU ARE. AS A COSUMER NATION EVERYBODY WANTS THEIR PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO THEM AT ANY TIME. CAN'T YOU SEE TRUCKERS ARE SCREAMING FOR A FAIR SHAKE IN THIS. THE PORT ARE MAKING MILLIONS A DAY JUST ON PORT FEES ALONE. CHARGING COMPANIES $10,000 JUST TO BE A CONCESSIONAIRE, AND $100 PER TRUCK TOP ENTER, $70 PER CONTAINER AND $100 FOR CONTAINER TO BE PULLED OUT OF THE PORT DURING 7AM TO 6PM. DIESEL IS AT $3.00. NOW, THEY ALL ARE FORCED TO PURCHASE NEW TRUCKS THAT SELL AT A MININUM OF $90,000 EACH. BE CONSIDERATE OR YOU WILL NOT HAVE THAT TOY AVAILABLE IN THE STORES WHEN YOUR KIDS ARE CRYING FOR IT.

[JRWKILLEEN]

Sorry, you truckers lost any kind of sympathy I might have had for your cause. Of course, I don't like many of you anyway...the way you bully people on the road.

[justasking99]

Is it not enough that the non-stop proliferation of 18 wheelers has already extended all freeway commutes by at least 30 minutes each and every day of the year? This is especially true on the 101 in the San Fernando Valley where interstate 18 wheelers have started to clog an already jammed freeway. Just think about how much time and productivity is wasted by 18 wheeler-caused gridlock each and every day.
I think the late Mayor Tom Bradley had the right idea years ago when he advocated restricting the operation of non-local 18 wheelers to 9 pm though 5 am.
As for these protesting truckers, my opinion is that they should all be arrested, lose their licenses, and serve a lengthy jail term.

[Son of Trucker]

I am a son of a truck driver and I know that changing to the regulated system would set us back by a lot, not only is the economy for self employed truck drivers bad due to the fact that bigger companies are taking job loads at a cheaper price thus leaving the self employed truck drivers without a job. I am tired of the L.A. community complaining about traffic and their commute, it's L.A. people you should be used to it, stop complaining and leave earlier, you guys have no consideration for truck drivers on the road, I have traveled with my dad before and see how ignorant drivers are to cut him off or switch in the lane last minute and break, this could cause accidents, but the CHP is quick to charge the truck driver and not the person who caused the accident.

[Jordan Downs]

So, let me get this straight, to protest measures intended to better air quality these truckers have decided to jam traffic, costing themselves -- and other commuters -- money while increasing the number of automobiles on the road and in turn decreasing air quality?

Go forth tax, reek retribution for the citizens who must pay with their time and money for the misguided protests of these truckers!

[Dee Elander, truckers wife]

For the one who thinks all truck drivers are on meth, sorry- they are not. Clean air is good; regulations that hurt the guys who fight the traffic and all types of weather, as well as the clock, to bring everything from cars to food across this country- NOT GOOD! If you think this protest is inconvient to you, think of what would happen if those drivers shut down and sat for even 48 hours- think about all the daily deliveries of gas, food and even the clothes about to be on sale at WAlmart that would NOT be there! Thank the truckers, not cut them off! My hubby has 22yr of safe driving with doubles- how many drivers of cars can claim that?!?!? VERY FEW! They have tried other types of protests to get the paper pushers to listen...

[frank]

DONT YOU PEOPLE KNOW.....
IF YOU GOT IT....A TRUCK BROUGHT IT.....
* THINK ABOUT IT PEOPLE*

[tonyE]

Unlawful assembly? They should get a permit to demonstrate? Disturbing the Peace?

What fools (not the truckers..).

What country are we in? Mainland China? The Soviet Union?

These truckers have every right to be pissed off and every right to demonstrate so long as they don't drive dangerously, run red lights or speed recklessly. At the very least they're doing this during friday morning's "light" traffic, not on a friday evening or monday morning.

It is after all the ham fisted hand of our sold out socialist politburos that's at fault here. The forces of Big Brother want everyone to work for a W2 at a Big Brother Company. They do not want independent contractors to survive because the larger companies are far easier to manipulate. The small guy has been squeezed out since the mid 70s.

So, as much as I may not like the additional traffic the truckers are creating, the point is that while what this guys are doing is a one shot, one mid morning headache, what Sacramento and DC are doing is a life long cancer.

So, yeah, instead of bitching about the truckers, think about what they're telling you. And some of you, by the looks of the posts, need to be kicked in the butt before you'll wake up and think.

[kirk]

these independant truckers have no one else to blame for their livelyhood. as far back as 25 years ago they started to undercut one another in pricing for container work. the "cut-throating" continued throughout the 90's. now they cry foul because the port companies will not pay them what they "deserve". they deserve a kick in the butt. follow the laws or sell your truck and go do something else. no one is forcing you to drive a truck for a living. and yes, you are independant contractors, thus, you are not going to be organized. the last thing i want in my teamster union are guys who would sell me out at the drop of a hat!

[Tom]

I work around these guys all day, everyday. They make great money and still will run you over for a dollar more. Many, aknowledge that they are here illeagly, and they say, they need to send money home. If they would save some of the money they would be able to contribute to the cause of a clean enviornment. And to top it all off, these non citizens, want the American government to subsidize them.

[Charles Carpenter]

We all know the global warming scare is for more government control of our lives, and higher fees and taxes da...

I pity those who fall for this BS.

[Marilyn De Armas]

GO TRUCKERS! We support you EVERBODY HAS GOT TO SACRIFICE!

[Joe but my real name is Jose]

Rail will prevail.

Another reason why I am glad I take Metrolink to work.

[Aardvark]

All cargo coming out of the ports should be on trains. This short-haul trucking is the most inefficient, polluting, and stupid method possible and it only happened through a complete lack of planning and regulation.

The regulatory agencies owe it to us, the people, to clean up the air and make this a safe and decent place to live far, far more than they owe truckers a living. It's not unreasonable to say "guys, what you're doing is harming everyone and you have to pay for it or stop it."

[Tornadoes28]

I wonder Sergio does for a living. Probably a trucker who annoys everybody with their selfish protests. Yes, lets ruin other people day for a protest to pollute the environment. Thank's a lot Sergio.

[Daniel Baca]

HOW MANY OF THOSE TRUCKS JAMMING THE 101 ARE CARRYING PORT CONTAINERS MORE THAN HALF OF THE CONTAINERS BEING MOVED ARE COMING OUT OF THE TERMINAL AFTER 6PM WHEN YOU ARE ALL STUFFING YOUR FACES AND WATCHING D W T S. IGNORANTS

[Tornadoes28]

And also Sergio, so if I'm not a trucker I am not allowed to disagree with their protest. Your comment was so pointless. Asking what I do for a living. Lame argument there Sergio.

[Daniel Baca]

THIS IS AN ECONOMICAL SCHEME AT AN ATTEMPT TO BOOST THIS HELL BOUND ECONOMY. 2012 WILL BE ANOTHER ATTEMPT.

[brad-g]

Stand up for you rights, I'm glad to see that not everyone will just roll over and take it in the behind. And for everyone that says they should be arrested your so so ignorant, you need to get the bigger picture here. One day out of your lives truckers want to protest to save their families and their livelihood and all you can do is complain. I wish everyone is the country would get outside and protest how bad this country is getting. And wait until the copenhagen treaty in december. If obama signs we are all screwed. So enjoy your so called freedom will it lasts.

[Richard Risemberg]

First off, the truckers are in effect forcing people who live near the ports to subsidize their (the truckers') income with their health and lives--Diesel PM10 particulates are particularly nasty and effective carcinogens. Give me heavy-handed government any day over being forced to give up my health so someone can buy a boat.

Second, the truckers are "independent" in name only. They are "Independent contractors" for port trucking companies, which means simply disguised employees who are forced to compete with each other in asking the lowest fees for their labor; they also have no benefits. this is why the City wants to require them to be employees and subject to unionization--to protect the truckers' own economic interests.

Third, far more of those containers should be on trains anyway, loaded right at the docks. Trains are three to four times more energy efficient than trucks, and many MANY times more space efficient--one set of double tracks can carry far more than any freeway, and is barely over two lanes wide. But, with few exceptions, railroads have to buy the land on which they build their own roads, which they pay property taxes on, and then pay fuel taxes which are used to give highly-subsidized roads to their competitors in trucking--talk about a market distortion!

These protest are built ego and a knee-jerk reaction to anything that looks threatening, whether it is or not in the longer run. Port fees are necessary to prevent trucking from killing off the port's residents, and the rest of the program (ending the pretense of "independent" truckers) would actually empower (and enrichen) truckers after a period of adjustment.

[West Valley Dave]

And how much diesel fuel did these truckers waste? How much money did they spend on this because their little demonstration, as well intentioned as it may be, won't do a damn thing to change the fee structure.

[Denny]

The surface of the L.B. freeway was just repaved. With all those tractors heading down to the port at the same time could be too much trama for the L.B. freeway.

[RobS]

Who thought that this was an appropriate means to demonstrate? I'm not against truckers, but this doesn't look like a protest. It looks like a tantrum.

Here’s a hint, don’t stop traffic in LA on a Friday if you want people to support you….

Also, LA is increasing fees for the same reason the LAPD and the CHP are increasing their ticketing and harassment, the city is broke. Government is worse than the mafia with their shakedowns.

[Randy]

For those who say the truckers have a right to protests, they sure do....as long as its done legally. If I'm driving too slow on the freeway I can get a citation for impeding traffic and every one of those truck drivers should too, and have a thorough review of their log books and truck inspection while they are at it. This is why we should never have relied on fleets of 18 wheelers to drive across the whole country and relied more on rail.

And for those saying we drivers should leave earlier....um we would but seeing as you FAILED to notify anyone of your protest, we left early enough for regular traffic, not bone headed jerk moves from greedy union people. But then had you notified the CHP they would have made a news announcement, we would have planned accordingly...but you didn't...so go to hell.

Oh yeah....idling diesel trucks in a protest over clean air...we all appreciate the exhaust you forced us to breathe...can I sue you for cancer?

[Astonished]

Please. These truckers have known about the mandated changes for at least two years, yet now they're up in arms about the hike in fees. They want the City to subsidize them so they don't have to pay out-of-pocket. Sorry, I vote for cleaner air to breathe. This is their chosen profession, and they need to adapt, just like everyone else has had to.

[Ruben]

Man, theres some real ignorant people on here its not even funny.. I agree, theres a lot of pollution and we do need more trucks.. The problem is that the economy is in the hole right now and there isnt a lot of loads to go around. They expect us to buy trucks worth $90,000 at least, while paying us $40 dollars per load. To top it off, the lanes at the port are long and wait at least two hours. Besides, we're pissed because they changed the deadline to buy trucks. They had told us 2012, and that was okay. Gave us plenty of time to save money and buy trucks.. But they changed it to this December. After December, more than 5,000 truck drivers will be without a job. Thats what we're protesting.

[m]

Clean air is a necessary thing and I'm not even referring to the global warming stuff . Big trucks and off road equipment create most of the pollution that cause smog and when you brush up on all that pm they put out does (heart attack, cancer, etc...) it will make you cringe. Sucks for independent truckers. but the needs of the many out weight the needs of the few.

We need to build up rail lines more anyways and eliminate some of this truck traffic will providing a much more efficient and smaller pool of engines to regulate (locomotives).

I will never side with protesters that do damage to others such as these truckers selfishly jamming freeways and side streets. Get a picket line Don't block traffic.

[Erick]

Its funny to see people give opinions when they know nothing about the situation, nor does the reporter. The protest here is about extending the deadline. They had told us te deadline was Dec 2012.. That wasnt bad, we had time to get money and prepare with everything else. The last couple of months though, have been a roller coaster. They told us it was changed to Dec of this year, then back to 2012.. Now, its this Dec. THey didnt give us time to save up or prepare to buy a truck worth $90,000 dollars... Also, doing loads that pay $40 bucks.. To top it off, there isnt any! There isnt many loads to go around and pay very little. The insurance for the new trucks goes beyond $700 a month.. And the truck payments are starting at $1,2000.. Seriously. What the hell is that?

[m]

the business of cargo transport is changing in southern cal. Either evolve with it or get in another line of work.

crybabies.

[Erick]

Oh, and did i mention that if this deadline does not change, more than 5,000 truck drivers will be without a job? Instead of trying to boost the economy, they're going to slump it more. Doesnt that sound encouraging.

[Erick]

Oh, and did i mention that if this deadline does not change, more than 5,000 truck drivers will be without a job? Instead of trying to boost the economy, they're going to slump it more. Doesnt that sound encouraging.

[356man]

Two thirds of all truckers should be fired. I won't elaborate on what to do with the remaining third...

[avila]

well we have to support the truck drivers in this matter... I am a dispatcher for a trucking company and i think that the best way get anyone to listen is to completely stop working for at least a week.... then see how they will get people to listen, one day really doesnt make a diffrence, specialy on a friday... there really isn't that much work on fridays anyway. look at how the long shoremen do it they say we aint working and they stop! everyone stops and they do it for more than a day they do it till there demands get met, that's how they end up getting what they want, you never see them stop for a day unless its a holiday, but they get there point across and thats what the truckers need to do.... i know many people can't afford to stop working for a week because they lose money... but sometimes we have to look past how much were going to lose, and look at what we have to gain!

[avila]

well we have to support the truck drivers in this matter... I am a dispatcher for a trucking company and i think that the best way get anyone to listen is to completely stop working for at least a week.... then see how they will get people to listen, one day really doesnt make a diffrence, specialy on a friday... there really isn't that much work on fridays anyway. look at how the long shoremen do it they say we aint working and they stop! everyone stops and they do it for more than a day they do it till there demands get met, that's how they end up getting what they want, you never see them stop for a day unless its a holiday, but they get there point across and thats what the truckers need to do.... i know many people can't afford to stop working for a week because they lose money... but sometimes we have to look past how much were going to lose, and look at what we have to gain!

[The Awful Truth]

The reality of it is that you can't have it both ways. You want everything in stock in stores all the time yet you can't stand being stuck in traffic because of that 18-wheeler in front of you. Granted smog and pollution are hot button topics, the methods to correct the problem needs to be addressed by all those invoved in creating the mess. There are the container ships that burn fuel by the tons while moored in port to run the generators for power, the trucks that move the containers and deliver our products to market, the commuter that has to drive his/her car to work even though there are others that work at the same job along their route and they could easily carpool but don't because they feel it infringes on their privacy and personal space(over 85% of commuter vehicles have only the driver as the only occupant), not to mention planes and trains. For all the gripes, not one person responding to this articles will change a single thing about how they live in order to remedy the problem.
The transportation industry is the very lifeblood of our society. Eveything that we buy in every store is delivered by a truck. Were it to fail for more than a few days our world would come to a grinding halt. Therefore, the more pressure that is applied to it will, in turn, be applied right back on us in the form of higher prices at the register.
I won't pretend I have a clue about how to address the issue of global warming but charging a fee and compounding it with a mandate that requires someone to expend an enormous amount of money to be in compliance(pay lots of money for an engine refit or buy a new truck, either option costing from from $30-130K) doesn't do anything other than generate revenue for a government that has yet to show it's ability to manage it's own financial crisis and is simply trying to bail itself out on the backs of anyone it can.

[defacto]

truckers basically are the source that keeps the country running. If it wasnt for them many of the things that needed to be shipped from the ports into many cities not just in california but along all the united states. Without them the countries economy will literaly come to a grinding hault. They need to stick as one and demand changes as one large entity to not only prove their point but to show how dependant everyone is on their services. Truckers, you have my support, fight on.

[Mpg]

I worked as a trucker for 10 years with these guys. I left it 8 years ago. I can tell them who is ripping them off, their companies. Even if they leave there is another sucker to replace him as soon as he does. Most live paycheck to paycheck and I have seen more then a few go bankrupt ( I was 1 of them). Do the math, they make 100 bucks on a 50 mile trip in a vehicle that gets no better then 5-6 miles a gallon. Do the math at 3 bucks a gallon of fuel. Maybe an extra 50 an a 100- 150 mile round trip. They are lucky to do 2 of these a day and on top of that pay 600+ in insurance a month and DMV licensing to the tune of 200 or more. They work 60 to 80 hrs a week. Ive seen the broker fees, they charge 300 - 600, companies fee (about 25%) and they get to do the all the work and get 10 -20 percent. It becomes a vicious cycle, until they go bankrupt. Thats why they wont charge more, the company will just replace him with the latest sucker to graduate from Dootson.

[Dquad]

Why don't you stop taking the loads and go be a gardener like all the other illegals in this country. I'm glad all these guys took the day off from bringing in more Chinese made junk into this country!!! Buy American!!

[Westside Chris]

Yes, I understand that trucks deliver the goods that we use daily, and I respect that. But 'justasking99' makes an extremely appealing case - why do NON-LOCAL 18 wheelers need to be driving through LA during rush hour? (that's 7-10am and 3-7pm) It just doesn't make sense, it's inneficient for the driver of the truck, and the rest of the commuting population. Yes, LA has plenty of traffic, but the rigs don't need to compound the problem. And I'm sorry, but I've seen waaaaay to many outdated rigs throw plumes of soot into the air, it's nasty. And as an asthmatic, it outrages me that they're allowed to continue to pollute like that while I've got to get a smog check every 2 years for my little Honda Civic.

And, to reiterate many other comments, NO, crawling down the freeway in protest is NOT going to further your cause.

[Bill]

Years ago the port independent trucker cut their prices to get the loads. Now They Have To Deal With It And They Have Know About It For Years That The Change is Coming...And Besides Have You All Seen These Pieces Of Crap Ass Trucks That Run On the 710. Get Rid of all of them .. And Set Up DOT Inspections At The Ports Also........

[davidozone]

Why is is it these truckers are after the fact.This is typical now in America.Groups and organizations need this type of action as soon as the mere mention of the new taxes and or increases under the guise of Pollution Laws!! My heart goes out to the truckers.This is Socialism.

[Daniel Baca]

WHAT TRUCK DRIVERS NEED TO DO IS STOP IF THEY AREN'T MAKING MONEY ANYWAYS THEY ALL NEED TO JUST STOP ALL OF THEM AND LET THE FEEL THE PINCH. BUT THEY NEED TO ORGANIZE AND SET RATES FOR ALL CARGO. IT DOESN'T DO ANY GOOD IF 10% ARE PROTESTING AND THE OTHER 90% ARE WORKING FOR CHEAPER RATES. I OPPOSED A CUSTOMERS REDICULOUS RATE ONE TIME, THE CUSTOMER SWITCHED TO ANOTHER TRUCKER WITH A CHEAPER RATE WHOM PROBABLY IS PROTESTING TODAY. STABBED IN THE BACK. THAT IS HOW I FEEL FROM US TRUCKERS NOT STICKING TOGETHER.

[Daniel Baca]

WHAT TRUCK DRIVERS NEED TO DO IS STOP IF THEY AREN'T MAKING MONEY ANYWAYS THEY ALL NEED TO JUST STOP ALL OF THEM AND LET THE FEEL THE PINCH. BUT THEY NEED TO ORGANIZE AND SET RATES FOR ALL CARGO. IT DOESN'T DO ANY GOOD IF 10% ARE PROTESTING AND THE OTHER 90% ARE WORKING FOR CHEAPER RATES. I OPPOSED A CUSTOMERS REDICULOUS RATE ONE TIME, THE CUSTOMER SWITCHED TO ANOTHER TRUCKER WITH A CHEAPER RATE WHOM PROBABLY IS PROTESTING TODAY. STABBED IN THE BACK. THAT IS HOW I FEEL FROM US TRUCKERS NOT STICKING TOGETHER.

[Daniel Baca]

WHAT TRUCK DRIVERS NEED TO DO IS STOP IF THEY AREN'T MAKING MONEY ANYWAYS THEY ALL NEED TO JUST STOP ALL OF THEM AND LET THE FEEL THE PINCH. BUT THEY NEED TO ORGANIZE AND SET RATES FOR ALL CARGO. IT DOESN'T DO ANY GOOD IF 10% ARE PROTESTING AND THE OTHER 90% ARE WORKING FOR CHEAPER RATES. I OPPOSED A CUSTOMERS REDICULOUS RATE ONE TIME, THE CUSTOMER SWITCHED TO ANOTHER TRUCKER WITH A CHEAPER RATE WHOM PROBABLY IS PROTESTING TODAY. STABBED IN THE BACK. THAT IS HOW I FEEL FROM US TRUCKERS NOT STICKING TOGETHER.

[Consumer]

I can already see half empty shelves on x-mas shopping day...

[Daniel Baca]

avila GREAT PLAN. ORGANIZE IT! PLAN IT! I DONT SEE YOU OUT THERE IN FRONT OF THE TERMINALS

[Daniel Baca]

NEXT WEEK I WILL BE POSTING ON YOUTUBE PORT ACTIVITES UNDER "PORT OF LA REALITY". IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE TRUTH LOG ON MONDAY

[Michaeld]

Wow. I really can not believe all of the animosity towards these truckers and the blatantly closed minded and socialist comments coming from these people.

This is America and the last time I checked, we were allowed to protest and voice our concern over draconian laws that would have a negative effect. In addition, for those who cry a bemoan the fact that there commute may have be slightly impacted, please consider how devastated you will be when the toy that little Timmy or Jenny will want for Christmas will not be on the shelf because a trucker was not able to bring it. Or the Thanksgiving feast was put on hold because there was no food in the stores?

As for rail being the primary mover of goods through out this great country, fantastic. But tell me, how will those goods get from the freight yard to the stores?

Think people. Don't just parrot what you hear, use your own God given brain and think for yourselves.

[D in LB]

Boo hoo hoo, my commute was a few minutes longer! (I was already sitting in traffic, but now I'm sitting among these big, ugly, smelly trucks) Boo hoo they ruined my day! Making $12 dollars an hour driving a $100,000 truck + gas/ins/fees and you're getting mad that they don't drive 85mph and are on meth...

How's it any different from any other day there is a fender-bender/pileup/shooting/stalled car/fatality?

Some of you people need to think about someone other than yourself for a moment.

While you're rushing home from work to make dinner tonight, think about where the ingredients for that dinner came from and how it got to your neighborhood market. Or while shopping anywhere buying anything!

Please give the truckers a little break, and respect on the road.

IF YOU GOT...A TRUCK BROUGHT IT

[cms]

BAD DIRTY HIPPIES!!! Vote and support liberals your whole life and then complain about the policies any one with a brain knows they are going to put in place? Listen up kids, get your education, use your brain, so you can get a professional skill set allows you to think for yourself so you can elevate your mind above union mentality. Think I'm cynical, read about SEIU vs UHW, it's the most corrupt juvenile garbage I've read in a while. I can't believe they have any members.... or just work at a union site, if you're not horrified, there is something wrong.

I'm conservative, and LA's atmosphere is so disgusting these are some of the few policies I actually support theoretically.... I'm sure the money is thrown away on political favors and activities that don't as effectively improve the air as they could.

The whole rest of the country needs to pitch in for the damage beind done to SoCal and the other busy ports of the nation.

[sancho-2]

yeah, i want to protest how many port truckers are not even legal and they use substandard rigs and jeapordise the saftey on many freways esp the death trap 710. esp those independant types i see in the published photos. they are sleaze and have nothing to say or do but cause disaster. im all for taxing the h&* out of these guys, what a shame if goods at wall mart have to be higher priced b/c of it - maybe it will help domestically produced goods.

[mark of thousand oaks]

F them...i'm on furlough with the City. I bet i'm losing more money than they are. So i have no sympathy.

[JOHNSON265D]

VILLARAIGOSA FIX WHAT YOU HAVE CREATED , MAYOR.

[DRE DAWG]

GO TRUCKERS!!! California's business climate sucks the life out of our small business owners who are the lifeline of our business economy. DON'T CRAP ON THE MIDDLE CLASS!!!

The more you, CA Government, squeeze, the more people will slip out from your grasp and move out of the state.

GO TRUCKERS!!!

[DRE DAWG]

GO TRUCKERS!!! California's business climate sucks the life out of our small business owners who are the lifeline of our business economy. DON'T CRAP ON THE MIDDLE CLASS!!!

The more you, CA Government, squeeze, the more people will slip out from your grasp and move out of the state.

GO TRUCKERS!!!

[Mpg]

Its time. The guys squeezing the truckers aren't just the taxes collectors, its the greedy companies who want to make money off these guys. Yes the prices for transport do increase, they just aren't forwarded to these guys. They should find the Brokers and picket them and their companies. Driving around downtown is of no use. They would have to do it everyday for a month to get anyone to listen. They are at the bottom of the totem pole and don't realize they are being used. Used by the shipper, trucking company and the ports. Its too little too late. I remember doing this with 2000 trucks and realized then I had to move on. They compete against each other. I have seen them out price each other and even pay the dispatchers kickback. Its time guys, let it go. its only going to get worse from here.

[Daniel Baca]

HEY IGNORANT FOOLS, EVERY DRIVER HAS A TWIC CARD. ALL TRUCKS HAVE TO BE REGISTERED WITH THE TERMINAL AND CHECKED OUT WITH THE DMV.

[356man]

Memo to "Daniel Baca": Unstick your caps lock key, please. Thanks--

[David]

Great way to "drive" home your point guys--make innocent people, who would likely otherwise agree with you, suffer with an even worse-than-normal commute. Law enforcement should take action against them.

[Ken10]

Causing a major traffic jam isn't helping their case. Walk or take the bus next time!

1. Honking your horn - NOISE POLLUTION
2. Put hundreds trucks on the road with no carge to protest - AIR POLLUTION, WASTE GAS
3. Causing a gridlock for other drivers - WASTE OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME AND MONEY (not good for the economy)
4. CHP had units over to monitor the protest - MORE AIR POLLUTION, WASTE MORE PEOPLE'S TIME AND MORE TAXPAYER'S MONEY
5. Truckers spent the day driving and protesting - WASTE YOUR OWN MONEY BECAUSE WHO'S PAYING FOR GAS

[ds]

...a bunch of ignorant people here. tsk tsk.

[Daniel]

Unreasonable and overly strict and inflexible environmental regulations are destroying the economy of California. Notice that people in Europe have cars that average 50 MPG on clean diesel but the California Air Resources Board will not allow them here so we have to continue to have cars that average 25 MPG. With that very wrong policy we continue to send about $300 billion in petrodollars per year to people in the Middle who use some of than money to support terrorism against the U. S. California's environmental regulations kill jobs and endanger our nation. Is there a leader who can take on the far left environmental lobby?

[elgrandon]

Did any of you people complaining about the "traffic jam" actually encounter it in your commute. I just happen to encounter it in my commute, when I saw them I taught it was going to be a mess, on the Freeway on ramp, they actually had spaces in their caravan to let people in and out of the freeway, when I had to encounter it again, same thing. My commute was not affected by the truckers at all since they where courteous to the other drivers on the freeway.

Rails? seriously? although more efficient, to create new rails the cost is enormous, what about all the stopped traffic at rail crossings?

I am only a party in this issue as a consumer of goods moved with trucks. And as an AMERICAN, I see this as just as another unfair feel good tax that does not solve anything. It just raises costs to the consumers, and make a few people lots of money.

This one guy I met, showed my his year end W2, he was a security guard at the port, just checking in and out trucks, no real "security work" there, made over $100,000 last year with overtime! I am sure he is not the only one. Thats what those additional fees help to pay. How much does any other security job pay anywhere else?

[Westside Steve]

Just for the record, this "clean up the port air" thing has been in the news since I moved here 4 years ago. Its not like there wasn't a lot of time to amortize and depreciate old equipment for compliant rigs. The air-board forced the ships to switch to cleaner fuel from bunker oil when approacing the port, and they didn't try to flotilla up the river.
Why do I get the feeling the protesters took a chance it would never happen, and made a mistake in their choice?. Thats is not the commuter's fault, guys.
Hope parking enforcement was doing thier daily deeds downtown.

[viewer]

Whatever the fee was, triple it!!!

[LA Ex-Pat]

I'm not surprised at the remarks here, as most people don't understand the limitations of their "great" ideas about how to handle cargo coming in and out of the LA/LB port.

"cargo should be loaded directly onto trains from the ship"
Most of the cargo(60-70%) that comes into LA/LB is for final delivery within Southern California, the remainder is either loaded directly onto trains that are loaded on dock or taken to rail facilites that are for the most part located within 10-15 miles from the port. The local cargo goes all over the place to distribution warehouses located all over the region. The ships that bring this cargo are loaded in 5-6 different ports overseas and the ships discharge in 2-3 ports here in the US, the cargo is loaded overseas per the discharge ports, so sorting this out to all load onto trains here directly from the ship would require burdensome sorting when loading the vessels overseas.

"truckers should pass these extra costs on to their customer"
As independent contractors, the truckers usually contract themselves to handles loads(containers) with a trucking company, who has the contract with the shipping company or importer to move the loads from the port. If the trucker tried to charge more, there is another one who will charge less waiting in line so they'll just lose business. Independent truckers get paid by the load depending on how far they need to move it, and NOT BY THE HOUR! They have to cover all their operating expenses, so considering the lease on their truck, maintenance, fuel, license, insurance, etc. at the end of the day there isn't much left. The shipping lines, terminal operators and trucking companies are totally separate businesses just so you know. The party imposing the port fees are the Port Authorities, which are department under the cities of LA and Long Beach.

"protest through your union"
The port truckers have no union.

in closing, the major problem here is thepopulation density of Los Angeles and the fact that the manufacturing on everything we purchase has been outsourced overseas. These are the social costs everyone, so try to come up with a way to make a positive change or just STFU and deal with things the way they are.

[Mark]

Why dont you people look at it there way. Its like stopping your family from drinking bottle water.
True it is water and it is filtered once but lets tax you on it anyway. Even though you pay for it from the city.

We cnt just tax everytime we loos a buck.

Dump Welfare and see how fast we gain.

[Daniel]

With outrageous, commerce and job killing regulations like this - and people wonder why California's economy is in the toilet?

Come on Meg Whitman - we need someone who knows how to right this rapidly sinking ship of state.

[Daniel]

With outrageous, commerce and job killing regulations like this - and people wonder why California's economy is in the toilet?

Come on Meg Whitman - we need someone who knows how to right this rapidly sinking ship of state.

[Brandon]

Holding the city hostage with your massive air polluting truck is not the way to do it. Get out of your truck and portest on your feet in a picket line like the rest of America......

[Ramon]

This is Awsome, it's about time that we stand up to this corrupt government. All they are doing is taxing us for more money in the name of the environment. What a bunch of B.S. The air has never been cleaner in LA. I know anyone that has lived here at least 30 years knows that the air today is not even close to what it was 30 years ago.

[lwps]

I am going to fart on my neighbor in sympathy.

[TheBigPicture]

Let's see...you haul cargo for living, so stop hauling cargo to get your point across...

Why stop at causing gridlock on the freeways, go to LAX and idle around and see how many more people you can alienate...then you can idle around the Staples Center so you can mess with the Lakers fans, that should gain support for your cause...

Your leader is a strategic genius...and you wonder why you're swirling the drain...

Has he considered driving through the actual shopping malls to show those ungrateful high school kids who hauls the stuff they buy...maybe forming a ring of trucks around various hospitals to show the patients that you're unhappy with the Port...

[TheBigPicture]

Let's see...you haul cargo for living, so stop hauling cargo to get your point across...

Why stop at causing gridlock on the freeways, go to LAX and idle around and see how many more people you can alienate...then you can idle around the Staples Center so you can mess with the Lakers fans, that should gain support for your cause...

Your leader is a strategic genius...and you wonder why you're swirling the drain...

Has he considered driving through the actual shopping malls to show those ungrateful high school kids who hauls the stuff they buy...maybe forming a ring of trucks around various hospitals to show the patients that you're unhappy with the Port...

[Crystal]

A study years ago showed that people who commute on the 710 have a 30% higher risk of cancer than the rest of the population. No amount of goods on the shelf will do any good to a dead person.

It's not a vague 'environmental' thing here which always riles up any anti-regulatory person. It's real crap in the air that real people breathe and get real disease, real death. This is serious. I used to live in Long Beach and when I dusted the furniture, the cloth turned BLACK. I have driven behind the trucks spewing pretty awful stuff.

If truckers can't get adequate payment from customers to make a living, it's because there is too much competition as has been stated by truckers in the above comments. If this puts a few out of business, I truly feel for them and hope they find another way to make a living.

It is unfortunate if the deadline changed, but as someone here said, I know this issue has been around and well known for many years.

Those who do survive will be able to increase their rates and continue to make a living. It just won't any longer be at the expense of nearby residents & commuters' health!

What about those whose jobs have been outsourced to China, and the resulting goods are what you are transporting? Where & how do they protest? Maybe they should all stand in front of your trucks as you prepare to leave the harbor?

[Crystal]

One other point I'd like to make is this: Why is it that the media has only given the trucker POV and discussed the inconvenience of traffic jams, but doesn't really say much about why this change is needed? I do not care for the one-sided slant or the odd 'other side' if it's reduced to the inconvenience of the day. There are much bigger issues.

[andy in pasadena]

If these fees are passed along to customers, I am totally fine with paying higher prices if it means we will have substantially cleaner trucks on the road.

To the truckers who's postings complain that the independant trucker is being squeezed by larger companies doing it cheaper... well, that's called competition. Put up or shut up.

[Pat in Tarzana]

Over 6,000 trucks have been turned over in the last 18 months as a result of the Port's Clean Truck Program. January 1st is another milestone that needs to be met where a large number of these old trucks will disappear. These guys have had many opportunities to get public funding to get new trucks. However that did not meet their agenda or the agenda of some of the politicians and unions. Some would rather talk than do. There all in the picture above.