Truck drivers traveling through the Inland Empire will soon have to follow specific routes as elected officials are preparing for a plan that aims to minimize traffic and pollution.
Under Assembly Bill (AB) 98, warehouse concentration regions, including Riverside and San Bernardino counties with high logistics and industrial activity, official truck-route maps should be updated while requiring trucks to use designated freight corridors.
As SB 98 is set to go into effect on Jan. 1, San Bernardino County is focused on the valley communities, such as Fontana, to lessen traffic and bump up public safety.
Those who live and work in the Inland Empire neighborhoods have complained about the down side of having trucks and large vehicles travel through their region.
“The streets are damaged, and the potholes get bigger,” said Angelique Rageasingh.
“We need them. I’m not saying (we should) get rid of them, but we need them,” Frank Ramirez, who owns Rock Solid Nutrition in the IE, said.
AB 98 requires trucks to travel through major roads, rather than smaller, narrower neighborhood streets in residential zones.
Michael Hales, a truck driver with over 48 years of experience, said he often faces frustrated people as he delivers goods across the country.
“It’s the turns. The roads are narrow, and the people are disrespectful. No courtesy for the trucks,” Hales said. “It’s like we’re an inconvenience for them.”
“Everything you have and consume comes in a truck in some way or form,” Anthony McDonald, another truck driver, added.
Truck drivers said they hope the new routes will include areas to park and have food and lodging accessibility to keep making their deliveries as fast as possible.
NBCLA reached out to San Bernardino County about how SB 98 will be enforced but did not get a response.
The public was encouraged to speak up during the San Bernardo County Board of Supervisors meeting next Tuesday when officials were set to finalize the plan.
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