#Truckers strike los angeles today drivers#

By 2035, every California drayage vehicle-large trucks that move goods between ports, rail yards, and distribution centers-must be a zero-emission vehicle. Yet a new rule passed by California’s air regulator last month demands major changes to that supply chain, in the name of saving Earth’s climate and the lungs of people who live close to ports. Forty percent of the nation’s containerized imports move through the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach alone, vital links in a global chain of commerce connecting factories all over the world to American doorsteps. Tens of millions of tons of goods move through California’s ports each year, proceeding from ship to port and beyond on hulking semitrucks. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.If you live in the US, the stuff you buy-that new dining room table, bag of rice, or pair of pants heading to your home right now-may experience the all-electric future of global transportation before you do. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at for further information. Kirk, thanks so much.Ĭopyright © 2014 NPR. MCEVERS: That's NPR's Kirk Siegler down at the LA-Long Beach ports. So Kelly, that iPhone you're carrying, the jeans you may buy - chances are it came right through one of these ports. for almost everything that's manufactured in Asia. And you know, these ports also directly and indirectly, according to port officials, support more than 1 million jobs in this region. There's a queue of container ships after container ships, unloading about $2 billion worth of goods - just every day. I mean, if you just picture what it looks like where I'm standing, you know, these two ports cover an area of 16 square miles combined. I mean, it would be a really big deal if it shuts down, right? MCEVERS: I mean, as he mentioned, LA and Long Beach ports make up the biggest port complex in the country. They're either going to send the cargo by air, divert ships to ports in Canada or Mexico - still a very complex and unfolding situation. Case in point, even though that strike may be unlikely, many companies do have contingency plans in place. But, you know, the shipping companies aren't taking any chances. And there's a concern that cargo will continue to go to other ports on the East Coast, through the Panama Canal, if this ongoing labor issue isn't resolved. And this West Coast port and others like it, you know, have been losing competitive share over the past few years. You know, there's a lot of pressure to reach that bigger deal between Longshoremen and the Pacific Maritime Association. You know, the people I've been talking to, who close to the labor talks, they think that's not going to happen or it's very unlikely. MCEVERS: So Kirk, then what are the chances of a full-blown strike down there? It's a line of picketers at the entrance to the terminal. There have been minimal disruptions here this week. A queue of idling semi trucks are waiting to get into this terminal. I'm looking at container cranes getting set to offload containers from some ships coming in.

KIRK SIEGLER, BYLINE: Well, Kelly, I mean it's important to stress here that stuff is definitely still moving. Kirk, what is the atmosphere like down there? What's going on? NPR's Kirk Siegler has been covering this story. These strikes are happening amid much larger ongoing labor talks between the shipping industry and the union that represents 20,000 dockworkers here on the West Coast. Many of them work as independent contractors, meaning they have to pay for their own vehicles and they don't get benefits.

These are the guys who move cargo off of container ships and into warehouses and rail yards.

#Truckers strike los angeles today drivers#

More than 100 short-haul truck drivers at the ports are on strike. A place where 40 percent of the cargo arriving to the country passes through. Mind you, this is the largest port complex in the U.S. There's been tension this week at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. It's ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR West.