Wages and Working Conditions of Truck Drivers at the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles

Using data from surveys conducted in 2004 and 2006, we examine the work and earnings of drayage drivers at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Though possessing relatively low levels of education (most have a high school diploma or less), these drivers average approximately $35,000 in earnings net of truck expenses, working on average 11.2 hours per day. Owner operators experience increased net earnings once their trucks are fully paid for, leading them to buy older, more polluting trucks. This negative externality is currently being addressed by both ports by enacting new regulations regarding truck drayage in Southern California.