Port of Baltimore Receives Grant to Continue Truck Replacements
The Port of Baltimore said it received a federal grant to continue a popular program that replaces old diesel trucks serving the port with newer, cleaner trucks.
The port received a $200,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation that it will combine with $300,000 in state funds to continue the truck replacement program.
The program provides owners and operators of shorthaul dray trucks up to $20,000 to buy newer trucks that meet the 2007 Environmental Protection Agency emission standards.
The funds are expected to replace about 22 older trucks.
“This replacement truck has allowed me to restore my confidence in driving,” said Edward Krivenko, an independent owner-operator who had a 2003 truck replaced with a 2011 model as part of the program.
“With a cleaner, safer and newer truck I have been able to do my job better and support my family,” Krivenko said in a statement.
The program has replaced about 100 older dray trucks, reducing annual emissions by about 108 tons of nitrogen oxides, 29 tons of carbon monoxide and four tons of particulate matter, according to the port.
“The Dray Truck Replacement Program has proven to be an effective tool at reducing air emissions and cleaning the air at and around the Port of Baltimore,” Barbara McMahon, Maryland Port Administration’s manager of safety, environment and risk management, said in a statement.
“We encourage truck owners to take advantage of this opportunity to purchase a cleaner-running truck,” McMahon said.
