Port of Long Beach Previews Path to Zero Emissions

The Port of Long Beach and its industry partners showed Tuesday how one port trucking company is converting to a full zero-emissions trucking fleet three years from now, a full decade before the 2035 zero-emissions goal set by the Clean Air Action Plan.

The announcement was made at 4 Gen Logistics in the Port of Long Beach, where Electrify America will install 60 public charging stations by the end of 2023 to serve its own fleet of electric trucks, as well as other companies’ trucks. 4 Gen will also purchase 41 Volvo and 20 Kenworth electric heavy-duty trucks, with plans eventually calling for a 100-vehicle zero emissions fleet. In addition, 4 Gen’s site in Rialto will host 30 charging stations. Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, Port officials, and representatives from Volvo, Kenworth, Electrify America, the South Coast Air Quality Management District, the California Air Resources Board, and CALSTART gathered to celebrate the company’s plans.

Standing near a model charging station and zero-emissions, heavy-duty electric trucks, Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia noted the changeover to cleaner trucks at the nation’s largest seaport complex will be supported by the Clean Truck Fund rate, which is expected to generate $90 million in its first year, or $45 million each for the Port of Long Beach and Port of Los Angeles.

“The Clean Truck Fund rate has been a huge step forward as we transition to a zero-emissions trucking fleet by 2035,” Garcia said. “It’s exciting to see this kind of true zero-emission technology be put into operation at our Port and help to improve air quality across our region.”

Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero noted the progress being made by the Port in the quest for zero emissions. For example, about $70 million in grant funding has been secured to support $150 million in demonstration projects that are deploying zero-emissions and near zero-emissions cargo handling equipment and trucks at Port of Long Beach terminals and on the roads of Southern California.

“Together, let’s transform this industry and show the world it’s possible to eliminate the emissions that are harming health and heating up the planet,” Cordero said. “And let us lead by example.”

“We are continuing a mission begun by the Harbor Commission and Port staff in 2005, when the Green Port Policy was adopted,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Sharon L. Weissman. “The future is zero emissions, and alongside partners such as 4 Gen Logistics, Electrify America, Volvo and Kenworth, we are going to lead the industry there.”

The Port of Long Beach has set an industry-leading goal to achieve zero-emissions drayage trucking by 2035. Collection of the Clean Truck Fund rate began on April 1, 2022. Cargo owners are paying up to $20 per loaded container hauled by drayage trucks in and out of the container terminals. Exemptions from the rate are provided for loaded containers hauled by zero-emissions trucks, and under limited circumstances, by low-nitrogen oxide trucks. Each port’s tariff requires payment of the CTF rate by cargo owners or their authorized agents, and includes a provision prohibiting payment by drayage trucks or operators.

Phasing out older, more polluting trucks has been key to clean air gains the San Pedro Bay ports have made since the original Clean Truck programs were launched in 2008. Diesel emissions from trucks have been cut by as much as 97% compared to 2005 levels.

Learn more about the Port of Long Beach’s environmental programs at www.polb.com/environment.

The Port of Long Beach is one of the world’s premier seaports, a gateway for trans­-Pacific trade and a trailblazer in goods movement and environmental stewardship. With 175 shipping lines connecting Long Beach to 217 seaports, the Port handles $200 billion in trade annually, supporting more than 575,000 Southern California jobs.