Board selects Clean Trucks administrator, eyes container moverLong Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners President James C. Hankla accepted the gavel from immediate past President Mario Cordero on Monday, July 14, to start a one-year term as the board’s leader and the Port’s chief spokesperson. “We’re at the forefront of ports around the world,’ said Hankla, who previously served as president for one year from 2006-2007. “This next year is not going to be easy, but I look forward to serving all of you in this capacity.” In other key actions, the Board of Harbor Commissioners: Asked staff for an evaluation of cutting-edge “zero or low-emission cargo movement systems” that could be used to move containers to and from an off-dock rail yard. Such technologies include magnetic levitation (“maglev”) and fixed electric “conveyor belts.” Board members said they want to select the best option and to initiate a demonstration project. Hired an administrator to oversee the Clean Trucks Program, an aggressive plan to replace or retrofit thousands of trucks serving the Port and reduce truck air pollution by 80 percent by 2012. The Board selected Tetra Tech, a Pasadena-based consulting, engineering and technical services firm, to administer the trucks program. Approved funding for development of retrofit technology that could bring older trucks into compliance with 2007 federal and Port air quality standards—the benchmark for the Clean Trucks Program. As part of the Clean Air Action Plan’s Technology Advancement Program, the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles will split the $261,232 cost of the project. Approved an advance order for 100 Kenworth liquefied natural gas-powered (LNG) trucks to be made available under the Clean Trucks Program. Last month the Harbor Commission ordered 400 diesel trucks (manufactured by Mack, Volvo, Freightliner) and 100 Sterling LNG trucks compliant with the Clean Trucks Program standards.