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Truck Drivers Struggling to Make Ends Meet as Tariffs Slow Business at Ports
- On June 4, 2025, Los Angeles officials including Mayor Karen Bass and Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka held a press conference aboard the USS Iowa in San Pedro to address the impact of tariffs on the port and local economy.
- The tariffs, initiated earlier in 2025 by President Trump as reciprocal taxes on imports to improve trade practices, have caused a 10% or more decrease in cargo volumes at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, leading to economic uncertainty.
- Port leaders reported sustained year-over-year container growth partly due to pre-tariff shipment surges, yet recent slowdowns have affected related jobs, with trucking and warehouse industries feeling significant declines and wage reductions.
- The head of the Harbor Trucking Association pointed out that a 10% reduction in cargo could result in the loss of roughly 100,000 jobs nationwide, acknowledging the difficulty in making precise predictions due to ongoing uncertainty. Meanwhile, a worker named Garcia described the situation as living "day by day" amid these challenges.
- The ongoing tariffs and unpredictability have created real economic harm and disrupted livelihoods, prompting calls from local officials for stable trade policies to support the port, its workers, and tied industries across the U.S.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Truck drivers struggling to make ends meet as tariffs slow business at ports | News Channel 3-12
By Perla Shaheen Click here for updates on this story LONG BEACH, California (KGTV) — Port cargo decreases of 10% or more are impacting thousands of truckers and millions of workers across the supply chain. Julio Garcia wants to be on the road as much as possible. But lately, there hasn’t been enough work to fill his schedule. “If they don’t have cargo, then there’s no work, right? Those tariffs are affecting us big time,” Garcia said. Garci…
'Cutting it close': Port director warns of shortages and price increases
Port of Los Angeles executive director Gene Seroka issued a new dire warning for CNN's Erin Burnett, saying he's already seeing the first signs of an economic crisis to come."When we're trying to figure out what's really going on here — I know you've seen a significant drop in ships at your port," s...
Mayor Karen Bass Announces Port of LA `Open for Business'
Amid uncertainty caused by federal trade policies, Mayor Karen Bass Wednesday convened a roundtable meeting with leaders in the goods movement industry to hear from them about the impacts caused by tariffs. Port of Los Angeles officials are expected to report the latest data on cargo movement later this month. Gene Seroka, CEO of the port, previously warned that the rapid changes in Trump administration trade policies is making it difficult to m…
LA mayor meets with port leaders to discuss impacts of tariffs
Councilmember Tim McOsker speaks during a press conference on the effect that tariffs are having on the Port of Los Angeles aboard the USS Iowa in San Pedro on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG) Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles Gene Seroka speaks during a press conference on the effect that tariffs are having on the Port and the industry aboard the USS Iowa in San Pedro on Wednesday, June 4, 2025…
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