Rep. Jerrold Nadler reintroduced his bill, the Clean Ports Act, to give ports more authority over drayage operations. The New York Democrat introduced the measure last year but Congress did not act on it, so he is now offering it again.
Under current law, states and local authorities such as ports are barred from regulating truck prices, routes or service. Nadler’s Clean Ports Act would create an exemption to let these entities set requirements “reasonably related” to improving pollution, congestion, safety operations at ports.
This change could give the Port of Los Angeles the green light to proceed with its concession plan under which owner-operators would be banned from providing drayage service and all drivers would have to be employees of companies.