Bill Mongelluzzo | Jun 06, 2011 5:14PM EDT
Six motor carriers that received subsidies from the Port of Los Angeles for the purchase of clean trucks may have to return some of the money because they did not comply with the requirements of the program.
The port released data showing the truckers could be on the hook for a total of $1.57 million, with Swift Transportation potentially responsible for $1.46 million of that amount.
The issue arose from a program in which Los Angeles offered motor carriers up to $20,000 per new truck to encourage companies to replace older trucks with vehicles that meet federal Environmental Protection Agency emission standards.
Truckers receiving subsidies are required to make a minimum of 150 visits per vehicle, per year for five years. According to a report released by the port, six trucking companies in the 12 months ending June 30, 2010, failed to make all of the required number of trips with subsidized trucks.
In a column under the title, “amount due to the port,” four of the motor carriers could owe between $3,000 and $16,000 each, another trucker $80,000 and Swift could owe $1.46 million.
Port spokesman Phillip Sanfield said the companies are aware of the numbers, but the port has not asked them for any money yet. Port attorneys at an upcoming meeting will present options to the harbor commission, and one option would be that the motor carriers reimburse the port for failing to make sufficient calls with the subsidized trucks, Sanfield said.
Dave Berry, vice president at Phoenix-based Swift, said the company has no comment at this time.
The current fiscal year will come to an end on June 30, and Sanfield said the trend indicates there will be some shortfalls again this year.
