Clean Truck Program in Los Angeles / Long Beach harbor complex

Issue 52, September 25, 2008

Effective October 1st, 2008 the Ports of Los Angeles & Long Beach intend to implement their well-publicized Clean Trucks Program (‘CTP’). This Program is designed gradually to improve air quality in the ports’ vicinity by ensuring all trucks comply with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2007 emissions standards by 2012. The South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) have conducted studies which indicate that nearly two million citizens living near these ports are negatively affected by air pollution, adding significant health impact costs to the community.

The Program will be financed in part by a Clean Truck Fee (‘CTF’) of USD 35 per loaded TEU, whether import or export, which will be levied upon the beneficial cargo owner, or their forwarder or broker, directly by the terminal operators.

The important elements of the CTP which may affect your business are:

• All trucks with pre-1989 engines will be prohibited from entering both ports as of October 1st, 2008.
• The CTF of USD 35 per loaded TEU will be assessed against all import and export container cargo entering or leaving the marine terminals by truck.
• The CTF will apply to all loaded containers, whether moving on port, door or rail ramp Bills of Lading to and from U.S. inland points, where the container enters or leaves the marine terminal by truck.
• The only trucks exempted from the CTF will be those which are LNG (Liquified Natural Gas) powered or which have 2007 or later diesel engines. In addition, the latter must not have been funded by the Ports.
• The CTF will be collected via a website called ‘PortCheck’ which will parallel the PierPass system. As of today, it is unclear whether or not the system will be operational to bill and collect the CTF by October 1st.
• All trucks entering the Los Angeles and Long Beach port terminals must be registered on the ports’ Drayage Truck Registry.
• A federal Transportation Worker Identification Card (TWIC) will be required for all drivers to gain access to port terminals.

More information on the CTP can be found on the following web sites:

Clean Air Action Plan http://www.cleanairactionplan.org/
Port of Los Angeles http://www.portoflosangeles.org/
Port of Long Beach http://www.polb.com/

DHL Global Forwarding is committed to ensuring our customers’ shipments are not adversely affected during the implementation of this Program. Therefore, in cases where DHL Global Forwarding is requested to pay the CTF on behalf of our customers, we will do so and charge an administrative fee of $10 per container for this service.

If you require additional information or clarification, please contact your local DHL Global Forwarding representative. Your continued support and understanding regarding this situation is very much appreciated.

Sincerely,

Cas Pouderoyen
Sr. Vice President Ocean Freight North America