CRT Members Announce Deployment of Clean Trucks Ahead of Port of Oakland Deadline

OAKLAND, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oakland-based members of The Coalition for Responsible Transportation (CRT) announced today that their entire truck fleets serving the Port of Oakland have already achieved compliance with the strict emissions standards that were established through the Port’s Clean Truck Management Plan (CTMP).

“These companies demonstrate how the trucking industry is really stepping up to meet the new environmental standards”

The CRT member companies, GSC Logistics, Inc. (GSC) and California Multimodal, Inc. (CMI), are two of the largest trucking companies serving the Port of Oakland and have deployed over 200 clean trucks into regular port service that will reduce diesel particulate matter by 85% per mile driven, according to the California Air Resources Board.

"These companies demonstrate how the trucking industry is really stepping up to meet the new environmental standards,” said Port of Oakland Executive Director Omar Benjamin. “These cleaner trucks will significantly reduce diesel particulate emissions and clean the air for a healthier community," Mr. Benjamin continued.

CRT and its local member companies like CMI and GSC have been overwhelmingly supportive of the Port of Oakland’s clean air goals since the inception of the CTMP and were among the earliest industry stakeholders to publicly support the dirty truck ban that was adopted by the Port.

"For GSC, protecting the environment is not just a company initiative, it is our responsibility as members of the community to work toward reversing the threats of pollution and climate change," said Andy Garcia, Chairman and Executive Vice President of GSC Logistics.

Illustrating their commitment to the clean air goals articulated in the CTMP, the GSC and CMI and truck fleets serving the Port of Oakland have already achieved 100% compliance with the dirty truck ban that will commence on January 1, 2010.

“CMI believes in the importance of the CTMP at the Port of Oakland and similar environmental plans around the country and will continue to work with the marketplace to provide clean and sustainable cost conscience solutions,” said Robert A. Curry Jr., President of CMI.

Financing the estimated $70 million cost of clean port truck deployment in Oakland has been one of the greatest challenges to meeting the Ports clean air goals, and the shipping community has responded to in resounding fashion.

Over 90% of the clean trucks deployed by CMI and GSC have been privately financed through a financial support model that includes the trucking company, truck driver, and the importers and exporters who have made financial commitments to use the cleanest available trucks in the marketplace.

GSC and CMI have been as committed to the livelihood of their truck drivers as they have been to air quality improvement. Both companies have instituted innovative practices to provide assistance to finance truck replacement and retrofits for their drivers ranging from down payment assistance and forgiveness programs to low interest lease-to-own programs that provide drivers to with a lower truck payment than they would have been able to find on their own.

Since its inception in 2007, the Coalition for Responsible Transportation (CRT) has grown to include leading importers, exporters, trucking companies and ocean carriers who represent the largest and most progressive customers and service providers at our nation’s ports.

More information on CRT can be found at www.responsibletrans.org

More information on CMI can be found at www.cmiamerica.com

More information about GSC Logistics can be found at www.gschq.com