Truckers protest clean air rules in L.A.

[The Straight Story]

Truckers protest clean air rules in L.A.


LOS ANGELES, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- About 400 independent truckers drove their semis to Los Angeles City Hall Friday to protest new environmental rules.

The protest delayed commuters on the 710 Freeway, the Los Angeles Times reported. The truckers blew their horns as they passed City Hall.

The truckers said they would support the Clean Truck Program at the Port of Los Angeles if they had help meeting the new requirements. Beginning Jan. 1, no trucks built earlier than 1994 will be able to visit the port, while trucks built between 1994 and 2003 must be retrofitted to meet new emissions standards.

A new truck can cost as much as $100,000, and retrofitting can mean spending thousands.

"We all want to go green," said Sofia Quinones of the National Port Drivers Association, which represents thousands of independent truckers. "But the devil is in the details."

The independent drivers say they have little money left after expenses.

http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2009/11/14/Truckers-protest-clean-air-rules-in-LA/UPI-40721258177159/