Port truckers in Seattle are continuing their fight against an emissions mandate that would force all drivers to upgrade to 2007 or newer model trucks.
Earlier this week, port drivers in Seattle made headlines by threatening to sue Seattle’s port agency over the legality of the “clean truck program,” which is set to take effect on April 1st.
Currently, about 47% of Seattle’s port drivers are not compliant with the mandate, and will be barred from entering port terminals once the program goes into effect.
A large number of port drivers who haven’t yet upgraded their trucks have threatened to organize in a fight against the mandate, and on Tuesday, more than 400 drivers gathered to discuss their next steps.
LiveTrucking.com spoke to port truck driver Luis Gonzalez, who discussed the group’s organized shut down:
“Last night, close to 400 truckers got together to discuss the next step on the issue. At first, it seemed the meeting was to compromise with the port, ask for an extension and beg for mercy… well, we changed directions, we decided not to upgrade another single truck, period, if we have to go on strike, we will.”
Gonzalez claims that the emission filters on the new trucks aren’t suited for the short-range port trips, and claims that drivers who did upgrade have been paying for the decision with costly repair bills.
“Those trucks are useless for port work, a guy was explaining that those systems must be running at 250°, well, driving 15 or 20 minutes and shutting off, we would get lucky to reach 190° tops. Another trucker brought receipts on repairs for this system on his newer truck of $45,000.00 dollars. And the thing is still breaking down! Plain ridiculous!”
Gonzalez also says the group of port truckers will try to escalate the situation up to the federal level if driver’s don’t receive the relief that they’re looking for.
“We are just starting to organize. We know for sure the POTUS is not fond of economy crippling programs and this is why we pulled out of the ‘Paris accord.’ We’re thinking he will be the last resort to put this to rest for good.”
Unless the upcoming emissions mandate is changed, Gonzalez and his comrades say they will park their rigs in an organized strike, which could cripple the port’s operations and have a damaging effect on the state’s economy.
