You are here: Home » News » Feature Story
August 30, 2007
Every year, professional truck drivers deliver more than 8 billion tons of freight and safely transport consumer goods to every business and community in the United States. And each day, over 3,000 trucks access the Port of Seattle transporting container loads of freight to markets throughout the U.S.
On a sunny August morning, the Port of Seattle celebrated its 8th Annual Trucker Appreciation Day as part of the National Truck Driver Appreciation Week. This year more than 1,200 new Trucker’s Guides and First Aid Kits were handed out to drivers at all four cargo container terminals and both the BNSF/SIG yard and UP/ARGO rail yard.
The Port regularly thanks the truck drivers serving this region for their important contribution in making Seattle a prominent center for international trade. Nationally, more than 3.2 million truckers provide a critical link in the worldwide transportation network through reliable, timely and safe delivery of freight. The local trucking community has a proven track record of skillfully moving cargo, and that supports the Port of Seattle’s success as a major international port.
A focus on trucks, ships, and cargo handling equipment is a key part of the Port’s planning to reduce air emissions in the Puget Sound region.
Between 2004 and 2006, the Port of Seattle, Puget Sound Clean Air Agency and a number of other agencies participated in the Puget Sound Maritime Air Emissions Inventory, a comprehensive study of air emissions in the region.
Based on that study, Seattle – along with the ports of Tacoma and Vancouver, Canada -- proposed performance goals to reduce particulate matter by 70 percent from ships at berth and 30 percent from cargo handling equipment.
The three ports will identify specific performance goals and emissions reduction targets for port-related trucking, rail and harbor craft (ferries, tug boats, etc.) activities. The partners will work closely with trucking companies to see how to meet those goals.
There already has been some progress. The truck turn-time at the Port of Seattle is considerably faster than Southern California ports and that fact is one of many making Seattle uniquely competitive compared to other West Coast terminals. “We are leveraging these efficiencies into our objective of becoming the greenest port in America,” said Seaport Managing Director Charlie Sheldon . “Faster turn-time means less time idling at either the gate or in the yard and that means less diesel fumes being emitted into the air,” he added.
All eligible heavy-duty cargo handling equipment at the Port’s cargo terminals have been retrofitted with 169 diesel oxidation catalysts (DOC). DOCs are estimated to reduce particulate matter (PM) by over 20%, carbon monoxide (CO) by 40%, and hydrocarbons (HC) by 50%. In addition, the terminals have voluntarily switched their operations from high sulfur off-road fuel to ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel and biodiesel blends.
The Port is also a partner in finding regional transportation solutions. One is the East Marginal Way Grade Separation Project, which will route trucks and general vehicle traffic up and over railroad tracks just south of the Spokane Street corridor. When completed in late 2009, the project will eliminate traffic delays on East Marginal Way caused by trains crossing at grade level.
Another is the State Route 519, or South Seattle Intermodal Access Project located in Seattle’s SODO District. Its purpose is to improve vehicle and freight access between I-5 and I-90 and the Seattle waterfront, including container terminals, the ferry dock and the BNSF - Seattle International Gateway (SIG) Rail Yard. It also increases safety by separating road, pedestrian, and rail traffic.
During the past decade the Port has invested over $1 billion in cargo terminal infrastructure, including terminal expansion, grade separation and critical intersections, on-dock rail capabilities on Terminals 5 and 18. And while getting cargo on and off the docks efficiently is one solution, reducing diesel emissions is another.
“Our record as an environmental steward will distinguish us from other ports and give us an edge in the very competitive battle for international commerce,” said CEO Tay Yoshitani.
The port has already come a long way on the environmental path, with a record that includes a switch to alternative fuels in seaport equipment and two cruise ship berths with shore power. And as more programs are implemented to improve air quality in the region, the dedicated, local trucking community can be counted on to keep the cargo moving on and off the docks and the trains.
Once cargo is off the ship, a top pick will place the container onto a truck or train.
Seaport Division Managing Director Charlie Sheldon hands a water bottle to a truck driver on Trucker Appreciation Day. Trucker Guieds were also passed out.