PierPass May News and Updates

Fastest truck turn times since mid-2014

Truck waiting times continued their rapid improvement in April, as the terminals at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach saw the heavy congestion of last fall and early this year recede into the past.

Trucks are now moving through the terminals faster than they have since mid-2014. For one transaction (picking up or delivering a container) on the Peak (weekday daytime) shift, it took trucks an average of 44.6 minutes in April, down from a high of 60.9 minutes in January 2015 and the lowest since June 2014. On OffPeak shifts (weekday nights and Saturdays), turn times in April averaged 49.5 minutes, down from a high of 61.4 minutes in November 2014 and the lowest since August 2014.

Average in-terminal turn time in April 2015:
44.6 minutes day shift
49.5 minutes night shift

For comparison, the average in-terminal turn time in March 2015 was 51.5 minutes for the day shift and 54.5 minutes for the night shift.

In-terminal turn time is the average amount of time a truck is inside a terminal to complete a transaction. Truck activity information is derived from RFID data, and excludes lunch hour, breaks and trouble tickets. Turn time at individual terminals will vary depending on time of day and other factors. For more information about turn times and how we measure them, please see our Q&A at http://goo.gl/PiOjBp.

Average daily moves per truck for frequent callers* in April:
5 or moves per day: 8%
4 moves per day: 15%
3 moves per day: 29%
2 moves per day: 32%
1 move per day: 16%

*The ports define frequent callers as trucks making one or more moves per weekday. Average moves per day by frequent callers tells us how many moves a truck can make if it is working every day. In April, 23% of frequent callers made four or more moves per day.

Gate moves during Peak and OffPeak/exempt shifts:
Total Peak gate moves: 362,155 (55%)
Total OffPeak/Exempt gate moves: 297,593 (45%)

A gate move occurs when a container enters or leaves a marine terminal via the truck gates. Peak shifts are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. OffPeak shifts are Monday through Friday, 6:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m., and Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday night and Sunday shifts, which are not regularly scheduled, are considered “exempt.”

To learn what it takes for a truck to drop off or pick up a container at a marine terminal, please see http://youtu.be/P9IJN1yIIJ4.

Los Angeles / Long Beach Terminal Operators Move Quickly to Recover From Congestion

PierPass April News and Updates

Container throughput surged in March at marine terminals at the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach. Compared to February, 75% more containers moved through the terminal truck gates in March during the OffPeak shifts (Monday through Friday nights and Saturday) and Exempt shifts (Saturday night and Sunday). Container moves during Peak shifts (Monday through Friday daytimes) jumped 54% in March over February.

Average in-terminal turn time in March 2015:
51.5 minutes day shift
54.5 minutes night shift

For comparison, the average in-terminal turn time in February 2015 was 49.6 minutes for the day shift and 53.0 minutes for the night shift.

In-terminal turn time is the average amount of time a truck is inside a terminal to complete a transaction. Truck activity information is derived from RFID data, and excludes lunch hour, breaks and trouble tickets. Turn time at individual terminals will vary depending on time of day and other factors. For more information about turn times and how we measure them, please see our Q&A at http://goo.gl/PiOjBp.

Average daily moves per truck for frequent callers* in March:
5 or moves per day: 8%
4 moves per day: 15%
3 moves per day: 29%
2 moves per day: 31%
1 move per day: 17%

*The ports define frequent callers as trucks making one or more moves per weekday. Average moves per day by frequent callers tells us how many moves a truck can make if it is working every day. In March, 23% of frequent callers made four or more moves per day.

Gate moves during Peak and OffPeak/exempt shifts:
Total Peak gate moves: 374,007 (55%)
Total OffPeak/Exempt gate moves: 306,187 (45%)

A gate move occurs when a container enters or leaves a marine terminal via the truck gates. Peak shifts are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. OffPeak shifts are Monday through Friday, 6:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m., and Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday night and Sunday shifts, which are not regularly scheduled, are considered “exempt.”

To learn what it takes for a truck to drop off or pick up a container at a marine terminal, please see http://youtu.be/P9IJN1yIIJ4.

PierPass March News and Updates

PierPass Monthly Transaction Data  

Each month we provide a summary of the previous month’s transaction data from marine terminal operators (MTOs) at the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach. Below please find data from the month of February 2015.

Average in-terminal turn time in February 2015:
49.6 minutes day shift
53.0 minutes night shift

For comparison, the average in-terminal turn time in January 2015 was 60.9 minutes for the day shift and 55.8 minutes for the night shift.

In-terminal turn time is the average amount of time a truck is inside a terminal to complete a transaction. Truck activity information is derived from RFID data, and excludes lunch hour, breaks and trouble tickets. Turn time at individual terminals will vary depending on time of day and other factors. For more information about turn times and how we measure them, please see our Q&A at http://goo.gl/PiOjBp.

Average daily moves per truck for frequent callers* in February:
5 or moves per day: 3%
4 moves per day: 7%
3 moves per day: 22%
2 moves per day: 43%
1 move per day: 25%

*The ports define frequent callers as trucks making one or more moves per weekday. Average moves per day by frequent callers tells us how many moves a truck can make if it is working every day. In February, 10% of frequent callers made four or more moves per day.

Gate moves during Peak and OffPeak/exempt shifts:
Total Peak gate moves: 242,181 (58%)
Total OffPeak/Exempt gate moves: 175,514 (42%)

A gate move occurs when a container enters or leaves a marine terminal via the truck gates. Peak shifts are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. OffPeak shifts are Monday through Friday, 6:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m., and Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday night and Sunday shifts, which are not regularly scheduled, are considered “exempt.”

Note: Many terminals were closed for one or both shifts on Feb. 12 for the Lincoln’s Birthday holiday and on Feb. 15 for the Washington’s Birthday holiday.

To learn what it takes for a truck to drop off or pick up a container at a marine terminal, please see http://youtu.be/P9IJN1yIIJ4.

PierPass February News and Updates

Overview

On Friday February 20, the Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union announced a tentative agreement on a new five-year contract covering workers at all 29 West Coast ports. The agreement, which is subject to ratification by both parties, is expected to allow the terminal operators at the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach to resume fully staffed operations and reduce the congestion that spiked during the nine-month labor negotiations.

January truck gate statistics at the two ports reflected high levels of congestion.

PierPass Monthly Transaction Data

Average in-terminal turn time in January 2015:

  • 60.9 minutes day shift
  • 55.8 minutes night shift

For comparison, the average in-terminal turn time in December 2014 was 55.9 minutes for the day shift and 58.4 minutes for the night shift.

In-terminal turn time is the average amount of time a truck is inside a terminal to complete a transaction. Truck activity information is derived from RFID data, and excludes lunch hour, breaks and trouble tickets. Turn time at individual terminals will vary depending on time of day and other factors. For more information about turn times and how we measure them, please see our Q&A at http://goo.gl/PiOjBp.

Average daily moves per truck for frequent callers* in January:

  • 5 or moves per day: 4%
  • 4 moves per day: 10%
  • 3 moves per day: 27%
  • 2 moves per day: 38%
  • 1 move per day: 21%

*The ports define frequent callers as trucks making one or more moves per weekday. Average moves per day by frequent callers tells us how many moves a truck can make if it is working every day. In January, 14 percent of frequent callers made four or more moves per day.

Gate moves during Peak and OffPeak/exempt shifts:

  • Total Peak gate moves: 307,473 (56%)
  • Total OffPeak/Exempt gate moves: 242,961 (44%)

A gate move occurs when a container enters or leaves a marine terminal via the truck gates. Peak shifts are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. OffPeak shifts are Monday through Friday, 6:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m., and Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday night and Sunday shifts, which are not regularly scheduled, are considered “exempt.”

Note: Two terminals were closed during the first shift on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday, and one terminal was also closed during the second shift that day.

To learn what it takes for a truck to drop off or pick up a container at a marine terminal, please see http://youtu.be/P9IJN1yIIJ4.

PierPass January News and Updates

Overview

Unusually high levels of congestion continued in December at the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach. The ongoing shortage of available chassis continued to slow port operations. This was compounded by reported shortages of skilled labor needed to operate various terminal equipment.

Marine terminal operators worked to reduce the backlogs of containers by running 72 additional gates (shifts open to truck traffic) during the month. The 72 additional gates were a 31% increase over the 233 OffPeak gates originally scheduled for December. The MTOs operated 73 additional gates in September, a 30% increase, 86 additional gates in October, a 33% increase, and 118 additional gates in November, a 55% increase.

PierPass Monthly Transaction Data

After increasing for several months due to the congestion, truck transaction times began to fall in December.

Average in-terminal turn time in December 2014:

  • 55.9 minutes day shift
  • 58.4 minutes night shift

For comparison, the average in-terminal turn time in November 2014 was 58.3 minutes for the day shift and 61.4 minutes for the night shift.

In-terminal turn time is the average amount of time a truck is inside a terminal to complete a transaction. Truck activity information is derived from RFID data, and excludes lunch hour, breaks and trouble tickets. Turn time at individual terminals will vary depending on time of day and other factors. For more information about turn times and how we measure them, please see our Q&A at http://goo.gl/PiOjBp.

Average daily moves per truck for frequent callers* in December:

  • 5 or moves per day: 5%
  • 4 moves per day: 11%
  • 3 moves per day: 28%
  • 2 moves per day: 36%
  • 1 move per day: 20%

*The ports define frequent callers as trucks making one or more moves per weekday. Average moves per day by frequent callers tells us how many moves a truck can make if it is working every day. In December, 16 percent of frequent callers made four or more moves per day.

Gate moves during Peak and OffPeak/exempt shifts:

  • Total Peak gate moves: 333,879 (55%)
  • Total OffPeak/Exempt gate moves: 271,302 (45%)

A gate move occurs when a container enters or leaves a marine terminal via the truck gates. Peak shifts are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. OffPeak shifts are Monday through Friday, 6:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m., and Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday night and Sunday shifts, which are not regularly scheduled, are considered “exempt.”

Note: All terminals were closed on Christmas Day, December 25. Some terminals were also closed for one or both shifts on December 24 and December 31.

To learn what it takes for a truck to drop off or pick up a container at a marine terminal, please see http://youtu.be/P9IJN1yIIJ4.

PierPass December News and Updates

Overview

The marine terminals at the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach continued to experience unusually high congestion during November, and responded by operating 55% more OffPeak truck gates than originally scheduled.

The largest cause of congestion over the past several months has been the shortage of available chassis. This has been compounded by shortages of available longshore labor and truck drivers.

Marine terminal operators (MTOs) continued to work additional shifts in November to alleviate congestion. MTOs operated 118 additional gates (shifts open to truck traffic) in November, a 55% increase over the 213 OffPeak gates originally scheduled for the month. The MTOs operated 73 additional gates in September, a 30% increase, and 86 additional gates in October, a 33% increase.

The MTOs have been spending $3 million per week on additional and unbudgeted costs since September 1 to manage congestion. In addition to adding unscheduled gates and shifts, terminals have been working overtime and through lunch and breaks, and paying truckers to move containers between terminals to load on-dock trains.

PierPass Monthly Transaction Data

The same factors increasing congestion inside the terminals have also driven up truck turn times. Below please find data from November.

Average in-terminal turn time:

  • 58.3 minutes day shift
  • 61.4 minutes night shift
  • Turn times for November include 12 of 13 terminals reporting

For comparison, the average in-terminal turn time in October 2014 was 51.8 minutes for the day shift and 55.5 minutes for the night shift.

In-terminal turn time is the average amount of time a truck is inside a terminal to complete a transaction. Truck activity information is derived from RFID data, and excludes lunch hour, breaks and trouble tickets. Turn time at individual terminals will vary depending on time of day and other factors. For more information about turn times and how we measure them, please see our Q&A at http://goo.gl/PiOjBp.

Average daily moves per truck for frequent callers* in November:

  • 5 or moves per day: 5%
  • 4 moves per day: 10%
  • 3 moves per day: 29%
  • 2 moves per day: 36%
  • 1 move per day: 20%

*The ports define frequent callers as trucks making one or more moves per weekday. Average moves per day by frequent callers tells us how many moves a truck can make if it is working every day. In November, 15 percent of frequent callers made four or more moves per day.

Gate moves during Peak and OffPeak/exempt shifts:

  • Total Peak gate moves: 369,631 (54%)
  • Total OffPeak/Exempt gate moves: 315,783 (46%)

A gate move occurs when a container enters or leaves a marine terminal via the truck gates. Peak shifts are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. OffPeak shifts are Monday through Friday, 6:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m., and Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday night and Sunday shifts, which are not regularly scheduled, are considered “exempt.”

Note: All terminals were closed for the Thanksgiving Day holiday, and for an ILWU meeting on Nov. 6.

To learn what it takes for a truck to drop off or pick up a container at a marine terminal, please see http://youtu.be/P9IJN1yIIJ4.

PierPass October News and Updates

PierPass Monthly Transaction Data  

Each month we provide a summary of the latest transaction data from marine terminal operators (MTOs) at the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach. Below please find data from the month of September 2014.

Average in-terminal turn time:

  • 52.1 minutes day shift
  • 54.7 minutes night shift

For comparison, the average in-terminal turn time in August 2014 was 49.1 minutes for the day shift and 48.1 minutes for the night shift.

September was a particularly difficult month. Truck turn times increased due to cargo volumes increasing, chassis shortages, and rail availability causing cargo delays and an increase in the average in-terminal truck turn times.

In-terminal turn time is the average amount of time a truck is inside a terminal to complete a transaction. Truck activity information is derived from RFID data, and excludes lunch hour, breaks and trouble tickets. Turn time at individual terminals will vary depending on time of day and other factors.

For more information about turn times and how we measure them, please see our Q&A at http://goo.gl/PiOjBp.

Frequent callers* average moves per day:

  • 9% trucks 5 or moves per day
  • 16% trucks 4 moves per day
  • 31% trucks 3 moves per day
  • 28% trucks 2 moves per day
  • 16% trucks 1 move per day

*The ports define frequent callers as trucks making one or more moves per weekday. Average moves per day by frequent callers tells us how many moves a truck can make if it is working every day. In September, 25 percent of frequent callers made four or more moves per day.

Day vs. Night Gates:

  • Average daily number of day gate moves: 15,404
  • Average daily number of night gate moves: 18,079
  • Number of day shifts open: 25
  • Number of night shifts open: 15

The number of unique trucks calling on the ports in September was 10,389.

Note:

  • All terminals were closed for the Labor Day Holiday.  Several terminals were closed due to the port fire September 22nd and 23rd.

To learn what it takes for a truck to drop off or pick up a container at a marine terminal, please see http://youtu.be/P9IJN1yIIJ4.

PierPass September News and Updates

PierPass Monthly Transaction Data  

Each month we provide a summary of the latest transaction data from marine terminal operators (MTOs) at the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach. Below please find data from the month of August 2014.

Average in-terminal turn time:

  • 49.1 minutes day shift
  • 48.1 minutes night shift

For comparison, the average in-terminal turn time in July 2014 was 48.7 minutes for the day shift and 49.2 minutes for the night shift.

In-terminal turn time is the average amount of time a truck is inside a terminal to complete a transaction. Truck activity information is derived from RFID data, and excludes lunch hour, breaks and trouble tickets. Turn time at individual terminals will vary depending on time of day and other factors.

For more information about turn times and how we measure them, please see our Q&A at http://goo.gl/PiOjBp.

Frequent callers* average moves per day:

  • 9% trucks 5 or moves per day
  • 18% trucks 4 moves per day
  • 30% trucks 3 moves per day
  • 27% trucks 2 moves per day
  • 16% trucks 1 move per day

*The ports define frequent callers as trucks making one or more moves per weekday. Average moves per day by frequent callers tells us how many moves a truck can make if it is working every day. In August, 27 percent of frequent callers made four or more moves per day.

Day vs. Night Gates:

  • Average daily number of day gate moves: 14,605
  • Average daily number of night gate moves: 16,887
  • Number of day shifts open: 26
  • Number of night shifts open: 15

The number of unique trucks calling on the ports in August was 10,313.

Note:

  • All terminals were closed one night for the second shift for an ILWU Stop Work meeting on August 7.

To learn what it takes for a truck to drop off or pick up a container at a marine terminal, please see http://youtu.be/P9IJN1yIIJ4.

PierPass August News and Updates

PierPass Monthly Transaction Data

Each month we provide a summary of the latest transaction data from marine terminal operators (MTOs) at the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach. Below please find data from the month of July 2014.

Average in-terminal turn time:

48.7 minutes day shift
49.2 minutes night shift

For comparison, the average in-terminal turn time in June 2014 was 44.2 minutes for the day shift and 46.2 minutes for the night shift.

In-terminal turn time is the average amount of time a truck is inside a terminal to complete a transaction. Truck activity information is derived from RFID data, and excludes lunch hour, breaks and trouble tickets. Turn time at individual terminals will vary depending on time of day and other factors.

For more information about truck turn times and how we measure them, please see our Q&A at http://goo.gl/PiOjBp.

Frequent callers* average moves per day:
11% trucks 5 or moves per day
18% trucks 4 moves per day
30% trucks 3 moves per day
25% trucks 2 moves per day
16% trucks 1 move per day

*The ports define frequent callers as trucks making one or more moves per weekday. Average moves per day by frequent callers tells us how many moves a truck can make if it is working every day. In July, 29 percent of frequent callers made four or more moves per day.

Day vs. Night Gates:
Average daily number of day gate moves: 15,732
Average daily number of night gate moves: 17,608
Number of day shifts open: 25
Number of night shifts open: 17

The number of unique trucks calling on the ports in July was 10,274.

Note:
All terminals were closed for the July 4th Holiday, the second shift one night for an ILWU Stop Work meeting, and several terminals closed July 28th for Harry Bridges Birthday Holiday.

PierPass July News and Updates

PierPass Monthly Transaction Data
Each month we provide a summary of the latest transaction data from marine terminal operators (MTOs) at the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach. Below please find data from the month of June 2014.

***For more information about truck turn times and how we measure them,
please see our new Q&A at http://goo.gl/PiOjBp***

Average in-terminal turn time:
44.2 minutes day shift
46.2 minutes night shift

For comparison, the average in-terminal turn time in May 2014 was 41.7 minutes for the day shift and 43.7 minutes for the night shift.

In-terminal turn time is the average amount of time a truck is inside a terminal to complete a transaction. Truck activity information is derived from RFID data, and excludes lunch hour, breaks and trouble tickets. Turn time at individual terminals will vary depending on time of day and other factors.

Frequent callers* average moves per day:
11% trucks 5 or moves per day
18% trucks 4 moves per day
30% trucks 3 moves per day
25% trucks 2 moves per day
16% trucks 1 move per day

*The ports define frequent callers as trucks making one or more moves per weekday. Average moves per day by frequent callers tells us how many moves a truck can make if it is working every day. In June, 29 percent of frequent callers made four or more moves per day.

Day vs. Night Gates:
Average daily number of day gate moves: 16,061
Average daily number of night gate moves: 16,253
Number of day shifts open: 24
Number of night shifts open: 17

The number of unique trucks calling on the ports in June was 11,186.

Note:
All terminals were closed for the second shift one night in June for an ILWU Stop Work meeting.