Truckers say boycott is still possible

No deal yet with Port Everglades Terminal, lawyer says

As the Aug. 1 deadline for a potential boycott looms, disagreements persist between members of the South Florida trucking community and Port Everglades Terminal LLC.

The dispute arose earlier this year from truckers who handle cargo delivered by Chiquita, Mediterranean Shipping Co., Maersk Line and Zim, which are the primary oceangoing carriers whose ships call at the Fort Lauderdale terminal, known as PET. They complained of poor working conditions there, including long wait periods and slow cargo processing.

Richard Rovirosa, president and CEO of PET, and terminal manager Javier Miranda on July 11 met with representatives from Ace Transport, Palmetto Transport, Nighthawk Trucking, Delta Trucking, and Southern Global to address concerns and discuss improvements. Rovirosa reported last week that the meeting had ended positively and that the two sides had reached an agreement.

In a July 12 email memo to the trucking firms, he wrote: “The Trucking Community and PET have as part of their communication commitment agreed to remain in contact on a regular basis to ensure what was started in good faith on the 11th continues and in fact improves the services provided by everyone to the mutual benefit of all concerned.”

However, the trucking community on Monday said a boycott is still possible. Attorney Brian Mathis, who represents the truckers, said they want — and as of Monday had not received — a signed agreement. They had put together a formal service agreement with requested conditions, but that has gone unanswered, Mathis said. “My understanding is that PET did not formally respond to the proposal, meaning there was no further discussion regarding any of the points identified in the document,” Mathis said.

“We want a service agreement signed, and they aren’t giving us that,” said Alberto Bello, vice president of Palmetto Transport.

Instead, Rovirosa distributed a flier to the trucking community on July 20, addressing some of the changes requested by the truckers, he said. He said he plans to meet with members of the trucking community to sign the flier he sent out.