Effective as of April 1, 2022, a new ports’ Clean Truck Fund (CTF) rate will be applied to all containers going through the container terminal gates at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach California. Everyone must be registered with PortCheck to pay the CTF rate.
If you have already registered with PierPASS, you can simply log into their website here, select PortCheck, and select the ‘I accept the Terms & Conditions’ box to register you in PortCheck. Your PierPASS login ID and password are the same for PortCheck and PierPASS.
All containers need to be claimed separately under PierPASS and PortCheck. Beginning March 29th claiming/paying for PortCheck CTF rates will be available via the website.
Credit customers with PierPASS who wish to have credit privileges for PortCheck will need to apply from within their PortCheck account. Starting March 29th, this will also be made available to request credit under PortCheck via the website.
What Is the Clean Truck Fund rate?
A key component in the port’s effort to transition to a zero-emission truck fleet by 2035, the Clean Truck Fund rate was established by the Clean Air Action Plan. The rate for nonexempt trucks ($10 per TEU) was set in March 2020 by the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles to encourage the trucking industry to invest in cleaner vehicles and eventually reach zero emissions.
If you have a zero-emission truck, you are exempt from the rate. The Port of Long Beach has approved an expiring exemption for the cleanest, natural gas-powered trucks as a transitional step towards a future where zero-emission cargo trucks are widely available.
Expecting to generate $90 million in the first year or $45 million per port, the CTF rate is a large step in the journey to a cleaner, more green future. The Board of Harbor Commissioners approved an initial funding prioritization for both low nitrogen oxides and zero-emission trucks on November 8th, 2021. At least 10% of those funds will be provided to zero-emission trucks.
The collection begins April 1, 2022, and will be paid by cargo owners on loaded containers moved by truck. The funding will be available as soon as possible, as the ports are exploring various options to make the incentive to maximize early emission reductions, including working to identify a third-party administrator in the next few months to assist with the allocation of some of the funding. The Port of Long Beach has already provided $4 million to various early action zero-emissions, and low nitrogen oxide truck programs in recent years.
If you would like to learn more, please contact your Coppersmith representative today. We will keep you up to date with this new pier fee should anything change, and help you get on the right track to making your choice to go zero-emission with your trucks. Because here at Coppersmith, we believe a green solution is the best solution.
