[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vM1xdwy39U]
Following a plunge in cargo volumes in 2008 and 2009, volumes have strongly rebounded at the two ports, leading to an increase in truck traffic. In response to this surge, the marine terminal operators have reinstated labor, gates and shifts cut during the recession. Terminal operators have increased labor levels by 37 percent since January 2010.
Lines outside the terminals are long primarily around 6 p.m. During much of the day and night shifts, there is little or no congestion at the terminals. Truckers can avoid lines by arriving from 9 a.m. to noon, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 11 p.m. to 3 a.m.
We’ve been watching gate capacity and developed this video to help explain the situation and urge motor carriers to take advantage of unused capacity to minimize congestion.
In response to the recent surge in truck volumes, some in the industry have expressed concern about wait times at the terminals gates. Marine terminal operators are diligently working with industry stakeholders to identify solutions. It is imperative that the trucking industry contribute by taking advantage of under-congested and under-utilized times at the gates. By spreading out volume and utilizing our existing infrastructure, trucking companies will improve the efficiency of their businesses.
Stay tuned to the PierPASS YouTube channel for more information.