Clean Truck Fee (CTF)
What Is a Clean Truck Fee?
A Clean Truck Fee (CTF) is an environmental surcharge that some port authorities charge when a loaded container enters or leaves a terminal by truck. The revenue supports programs that replace older diesel drayage trucks with lower-emission or zero-emission equipment.
The name and design vary by port. The San Pedro Bay ports call their charge the Clean Truck Fund (CTF) Rate. Other gateways may use a different name, billing unit or exemption list. In each case, the charge is tied to the truck move rather than to the ocean crossing itself.
A CTF is separate from normal cargo handling and container time charges. Terminal handling covers the work of moving a container through the terminal. Demurrage applies when a container stays at the terminal beyond its free time. A clean truck fee pays for the transition to cleaner port trucks.
How the Clean Truck Fee Is Charged
The fee applies to loaded containers moved through a terminal gate by truck. Ports may charge per twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU), per container or per truck trip, so the billing unit matters when you compare quotes.
At the San Pedro Bay ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the published rate is $10 per loaded TEU for nonexempt trucks entering or leaving a container terminal. PortCheck collects the fee. Example: a loaded 40-foot container counts as 2 TEU, so one loaded gate move costs $20 at the published rate.
Port authorities can change rates and exemptions in their tariffs. Confirm the current tariff before treating an older quote as final.
Who Pays and Who Is Exempt
For the cargo owner or importer arranging the truck move, the answer is normally yes: the CTF is their cost. A freight forwarder, customs broker or trucking company may collect it on their behalf, or an all-in quote may include it in the price. Even then, the truck driver is not the responsible payer. The Port Tariff states that the CTF Rate cannot be paid by truck drivers and asks that any request for driver payment be reported.
Zero-emission trucks are exempt from the San Pedro Bay rate. Low-nitrogen-oxide (low-NOx) trucks registered in the ports’ Drayage Truck Registry by December 31, 2022 have a limited exemption through December 31, 2027. Other ports may apply different exemptions.
A quote may show the charge as a clean truck fee, CTF, Clean Truck Fund Rate or environmental truck fee. Before booking, ask which party is responsible, which truck moves are covered and what documents are needed to claim an exemption.
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