Port of Long Beach boosts investment in zero-emission trucks
The Port of Long Beach has planned to allocate up to 70 per cent of its annual budget for zero-emission (ZE) truck incentives.
The port is refocusing on fleet turnover as ZE charging and fueling projects progress.
The CTF Rate program charges cargo owners $10 per loaded twenty-foot container hauled by truck through Long Beach and Los Angeles terminals.
ZE trucks are permanently exempt, and each port offers temporary exemptions for low-emission trucks.
The ports began collecting the rate on 1 April 2022, to fund incentives for ZE trucks and the infrastructure to charge and fuel them.
These incentives aim to reduce the high upfront cost of ZE trucks to match that of new diesel models, speeding up the transition to ZE trucks by 2035.
In the first year, Long Beach allocated 65 per cent of its CTF budget for ZE truck purchases, but potential buyers were hesitant without sufficient fueling and charging infrastructure.
In response, the Port of Long Beach allocated 75 per cent of its CTF budget for infrastructure projects in years two and three.
Since then, 102 electric charging units have opened in Long Beach, with 118 more under construction and negotiations underway for additional depots.
As of January 2025, Long Beach has collected $110 million in CTF revenues, distributing 46 per cent.
Over $31 million has funded ZE truck vouchers, $18 million for charging infrastructure, and $1.5 million for technology demonstrations.
The port noted that $20 million is allocated for more charging infrastructure, pending contract approvals.
Port of Long Beach CEO, Mario Cordero, said: “Over the past two years, numerous charging stations have opened in and around our port and in the Inland Empire. Our trucking partners can now invest in more zero-emission trucks with greater confidence.”
In February 2025, the Port of Long Beach reported its ninth consecutive month of growth, handling 765,385 TEUs as dockworkers and terminal operators continued to drive trade.