As Californian ports push truckers to go green, the struggling industry asks for more subsidies

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Set us as preferred The region’s struggling truckers say they need more aid to help ports reach their green goals.The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, each with some of the country’s most ambitious emissions targets, are considering additional incentives to help truckers switch to electric big rigs.Even as record diesel prices have triggered a wave of trucking bankruptcies, driving diesel-free vehicles has turned out to be more expensive than expected.As deadlines for the ports’ clean-air goals are approaching, they are motivated to accelerate the transition to green vehicles.

California’s two biggest ports have been raising money to support electric trucking since 2022, when they imposed a $10 clean truck fee on diesel rigs.Business Los Angeles truckers agonize over $8 diesel pricesThe ports plan to jointly spend $60 million from that fund on a per-move incentive program that would award battery-electric truck operators $60 for each one-way trip to or from the ports.

The Port of Long Beach aims to eliminate its carbon emissions by 2050.The Port of Los Angeles aims to transition to zero-emissions cargo-handling equipment by 2030 and then, by 2035, change the fleet of trucks that transport containers short distances to and from the port to all-electric as well.

“When I talk about 100% zero emissions, the way we get there is by having 100% zero-emission trucks,” Port of Long Beach chief executive Noel Hacegaba said in an interview.“Everyone recognizes the importance of rewarding zero-emission truck usage.”According to port data, about 4% of trucks visiting the ports are zero-emission.

The Port of Long Beach has already taken action to increase that number, setting aside nearly $5 million for one-time payments of $10,000 to early adopters of electric cargo trucks.Nearly 9,000 medium- and heavy-duty zero-e...