Battle Over Harbor Drayage Future to be Waged at 10th Annual Trans-Pacific Maritime Conference March 2, 2010

NEWARK, N.J., Jan. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- The future structure of harbor trucking will be debated at The Journal of Commerce's upcoming Trans-Pacific Maritime Conference in Long Beach, Calif. The perspectives of the two national authorities representing opposite sides of the issue – the trade community and the Teamsters – will be presented at "The Battle Over Harbor Trucking" panel on Mar. 2, 2010.

In its efforts to "green" the Port of Los Angeles has opened up a battle over harbor drayage employment regulation. A provision in its clean trucks plan that was launched in Oct. 2008 would require trucking companies to use employee drivers; The International Brotherhood of Teamsters supports this as an opportunity to organize independent owner-operators of the industry. The trade community – shippers, carriers, 3PLs, ports and others – predict huge new costs and disruption to trade flows.

A lawsuit over the legality of such a requirement has been brought against the port by the American Trucking Associations, and it has opened the doors for a nationwide discussion and push for legislation to avoid, in effect, re-regulate a trucking industry that was deregulated 30 years ago.

"Harbor drayage is a critical link in the international supply chain, and what happens this year in Los Angeles and at ports nationwide will determine the industry's future," said Bill Mongelluzzo, panel moderator and west coast editor of The Journal of Commerce. "I could not think of two more influential leaders than Fred Potter and Curtis Whalen to debate these issues."

Register for TPM by February 1, 2010 for discounted admission. To learn more and register call (562) 436-3661 or visit www.joc.com/TPM.

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