The Harbor Trucking Association will explore the possibility of filing a class action lawsuit against terminal operators at the ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach and Oakland as congestion worsens at the California ports, the association announced [last week].
In three identical letters sent to the ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach and Oakland by the HTA, the association says it is seeking legal counsel to investigate a potential lawsuit contending that the provisions of the Uniform Intermodal Interchange & Facilities Access Agreement and several state regulations regarding equipment return, notification and gate hours violate the Business Standards and Practices Code.
For example, HTA Executive Director Alex Cherin told JOC.com that terminals are no longer taking empty containers, but are charging a per diem when truckers don’t return chassis. Truckers have nowhere to put empties, and therefore can’t return chassis, creating a virtual catch-22 with truckers on the losing end.
