On Jan. 1 the Clean Trucks Program at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles will hit the final phase of its progressive ban, permanently barring the oldest drayage trucks from port terminals.

Port officials say 98 percent of trucked container moves at the facility already are done by rigs with model year 2007 and newer engines.

Under the Clean Trucks Program, port terminals began barring older rigs on Oct. 1, 2008. The first ban included trucks with 1988 or older engines. On Jan. 1, 2010, the port banned 1993 and older trucks, and trucks manufactured between 1994 and 2003 were allowed to continue doing business at the port if they were equipped with diesel particulate filters.

Beginning Jan. 1, both ports no longer will be assessing a Clean Truck Fee on trucks with an engine year of 2006 and older, which will be banned from port marine terminals.

The PortCheck website, www.pierpass-tmf.org, will remain open in January for payment of billed and accrued Clean Truck Fees prior to Jan. 1, 2011.

PortCheck will be refunding Clean Truck Fees that were deposited in accounts but not spent. Customers should check their accounts and request their deposit refund no later than Jan. 15. Deposit refunds that are not requested by that date may be forfeited as unclaimed deposits. For more information, call the PortCheck Customer Service Center at (877) 863-3310.