Court rules against ATA in Los Angeles port plan

A three-judge panel from the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals denied a request Feb. 24 for an injunction sought by the American Trucking Associations against the Port of Los Angeles’ plan to 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 appeals panel, however, didn’t agree and returned the case to U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.

The court sided with ATA that the port should not require drayage trucks to display information on placards other than that required by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

ATA spokesman Clayton Boyce said the overall ruling was “not significant. It doesn’t change the status quo at all. “We’ve already won the bulk of the case.”

Port lawyers are seeking a dismissal of the case, while ATA is seeking a permanent injunction against the concession plan.

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