With little fanfare, Port of Oakland addresses “Clean Air” issue

While San Pedro Bay megaports were making headlines with their celebrated “Zero Emission Mandate,” the Port of Oakland has been implementing the second part of its freight-hauler operation to clear the air.

Late last month the trucking and warehousing specialist, Impact Transportation, announced that it’s spending more than $1 million on cleaner cargo-handling equipment.  

The company said it’s buying nine new forklifts plus a yard tractor to reduce diesel emissions.  The equipment will run on either propane or diesel fuel, Impact said.  The company added that its diesel-powered machines would operate with Tier 4F engines.  The engines meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s toughest diesel exhaust restrictions, Impact pointed out.

“We comply with all local, state and federal regulations,” said Impact Transportation President Ron Cancilla.  “But we’re also doing this for the health and safety of our employees, our closest Oakland neighbors and the entire Port community.”

The company’s equipment upgrades could have a measurable impact on Oakland air quality, Port officials said.  Impact handles more than 100,000 20-foot containers worth of cargo annually at its facility on port property.

Impact becomes the second major freight-hauler at the port month to attack diesel emissions. 

GSC Logistics, another Oakland trucking firm, has also received its first battery-powered truck for a limited trial.

Diesel emissions from Oakland cargo-handling operations have already declined 82 percent since 2005, the port said.  It traced the improvement to the port’s clean air strategy, which includes equipment upgrades by tenants. 

Spokesmen for Oakland said it expects another 16 percent reduction by 2020 with help from freight-haulers and marine terminals.