The Port of Los Angeles and the American Trucking Associations will square off in a civil suit in federal court beginning April 20 over driver classification aspects of the port’s drayage emissions program.  

The trial in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles will consider ATA’s request for a permanent injunction to block the port program that would require all independent truckers to become employees of approved trucking companies. Under its Clean Trucks program, the port contends the concession plan is the only way to help drivers buy and maintain new lower-emissions trucks.

ATA counters the plan violates federal interstate transport laws and makes it easier for the Teamsters to organize the drivers. The association also contends the port’s concession plan requirements don’t act to clean the air of pollutants, which is the stated goal of the Clean Trucks program.

Last month, a three-judge federal panel expanded an ATA request for a temporary injunction against a port provision that required drayage trucks to display information on placards other than that required by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Separately, a U.S. District Court judge ruled against an ATA request for a permanent injunction against most of the port’s truck concession plan. The judge also ruled a port request to dismiss the suit and dismiss the temporary injunction.