Part of the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan, the groundbreaking Clean Truck Program, established in 2008, has reduced air pollution from harbor trucks by more than 90%, by voluntary early action to comply with State law.

All drayage trucks entering port terminals must comply with the state law regulating Drayage Trucks. See the California Air Resources Board website for current regulations, as well as future rulemaking.

In addition, all drayage trucks entering Port of Los Angeles (POLA) terminals must comply with the provisions of the Port of Los Angeles Tariff Section 20: Clean Air Action Plan - General Rules & Regulations.

The Clean Truck Fund (CTF) Rate is a key component of the Port’s efforts to transition to a zero-emissions truck fleet by 2035, as established in the Clean Air Action Plan.

 

The rate for nonexempt trucks is $10 per twenty-foot equivalent unit — a standard measure for a 20-foot-long cargo container — was set in March 2020 by the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach to encourage the trucking industry to invest in cleaner vehicles and reach zero emissions. Zero-emissions trucks are exempt from the rate, and the Port of Los Angeles has approved an exemption until December 31, 2027 for low NOx trucks serving the Ports and registered in the Ports’ Drayage Truck Registry by December 31, 2022.

 

Fee collection is managed by PortCheck.

 

 

 

Collection began April 1, 2022.

 

 

 

The cost is paid by cargo owners or their agents on loaded containers moved by truck. Additional detail and definitions, as approved by the Board of Harbor Commissioners, are in the Port Tariff.

 

 

The Port Tariff language specifically states that the CTF Rate cannot be paid by truck drivers. If you, as a truck driver, are paying the CTF Rate, please report this to the Port immediately. Reports can be made via email, phone, or in person. Reports can be made anonymously.

 

In accordance with California Government Code Section 14110.5 (AB 2057), all maritime ports with annual cargo volumes of greater than 1,000,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) such as the Port of Los Angeles are required to anonymously survey trucking companies every two years on the number of drivers classified as independent contractors and the number of drivers classified as employee drivers.  The Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach conducted a joint survey from September 12, 2024, to October 22, 2024.  This survey asked licensed motor carriers (LMCs) which port(s) they serve, the number of drivers classified as independent contractors and the number of drivers classified as employees.  The survey results for LMCs that service the Port of Los Angeles can be found below. 

 

As part of the Clean Truck Program, all trucks entering marine terminals must be on the Ports Drayage Truck Registry (PDTR). It is important for Licensed Motor Carriers (LMC) to confirm their Concession status and maintain accurate truck data in the PDTR. To obtain access to the PDTR, you will be registered in the PDTR upon completion of your concession agreement processing.  As of October 1, 2018, new PDTR registrations of trucks entering new service at the Port of Los Angeles must be model year 2014 or newer.

 

The Non-Container Terminal Access Sticker Program became effective on February 18, 2009. The non-container terminal access stickers were created to give non-radio frequency identification (RFID) equipped (non-container) terminals a clear visual method to identify compliant trucks in the ports' Clean Truck(s) Programs. All trucks serving non-RFID equipped terminals at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are required to operate under a valid concession and have a valid non-container terminal access sticker placed on the driver side of the vehicle or a single day access pass on the dashboard to gain entry into the terminals. Only cargo trucks displaying an annual non-container terminal access sticker, a valid Day Pass or Exempt Sticker (see examples of the current stickers below) are allowed access to non-container terminals.

Non-Container Terminal Access Stickers are for non-RFID terminals only. All container terminals at the Port of Long Beach and Los Angeles use RFID readers at their entry gates. If your trucks only call container terminals, you do not need to apply for Non-Container Terminal Access Stickers.

 

Example of Annual Sticker	Example of Exempt Sticker	Example of Day Pass Decal

 

1. Register your trucks in the Ports' Drayage Truck Registry.

All trucks that require a Non-Container Terminal Access Sticker need to be registered in the Ports' Drayage Truck Registry (PDTR). If you do not already have a PDTR account, you will need to create one. If you have already registered this truck in the PDTR for access to a container terminal with a RFID, proceed to the next step.
 

2. Have the stickers applied to your Truck(s)

Once Tetra Tech has verified that your trucks are registered in the PDTR, in order to obtain a sticker, you should bring your truck(s) to the Terminal Access Center (TAC) located at 1265 Harbor Ave, Long Beach, CA 90813

The TAC is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays. Depending on whether you plan to access non-container terminals at both ports, it will cost $100 per port or $200 total. Notably, if you also service container terminals and have already paid your annual fee you won't be charged to obtain a non-container terminal access sticker. The non-container terminal access stickers must be picked up with the truck present at the TAC and sticker application must be witnessed by TAC staff at the time of issuance.

3. Exempt Truck Stickers

Exempt Stickers are available for vehicles that are exempt from the Clean Truck Program due to the following California Air Resources Board's Dedicated-Use Exemption Guidelines. Exempt vehicles are typically Class 8 heavy-duty trucks which are not configured to haul containers. Examples include: automobile carriers, tanker trucks, and power units with non-standard fifth wheel configurations. These vehicles must display an exempt sticker to gain access to terminals. This requirement will be strictly enforced.

The Non-Container Terminal Access Sticker Program initially made a "Gold-Exempt" sticker available for vehicles that are exempt from the Clean Truck Program. However, due to changes in the program, as of July 1, 2011 the gold exempt stickers are no longer valid. Exempt trucks with the gold sticker should go to the TAC to receive the current "berry" exempt sticker. There is no fee to register as an exempt truck or for the receipt of an exempt sticker. In order to receive an exempt sticker, exempt trucks must be inspected at the TAC. The exempt truck must be present and verified to receive the sticker and sticker application must be witnessed by TAC staff at the time of issuance. Additionally, the ports will record the truck VIN at the time the sticker is issued.

If you are a LMC that services non-container terminals, you may contact Tetra Tech at 866-721-5686 to receive specific information on what is required to gain entry into non-container terminals.