Peak season means adjustment for PierPASS in LA/Long Beach

Stakeholders representing importers, exporters, motor carriers, ports, and marine terminal operators (MTOs) reconvened at an industry working group meeting, co-chaired by PierPASS and Ability-TriModal, to continue discussions on potential solutions to limit congestion outside the marine terminal gates at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. As reported in LM, the first working group meeting took place July 29.

An important consensus from all stakeholders in the working group was recognition of the industry need for five OffPeak shifts, as well as adding back the noon hour relief and early start of night shifts. By September 8, 11 of 13 marine terminals at the San Pedro Bay ports will have reinstated a fifth OffPeak gate shift in response to a substantial swell in cargo volume. An updated OffPeak schedule is available on the PierPASS website (http://www.pierpass.org).

“All of the stakeholders are working toward the same goal – cutting down truck congestion at the ports and improving efficiency. We’re encouraged by the thoughtful discussions and commitment from all members of the working group to improve efficiency,” said Bruce Wargo, co-chair of the working group and president of PierPASS, the non-profit formed by the West Coast MTO Agreement (WCMTOA) in 2005 to address marine terminal issues such as congestion, security and air quality.

When cargo volumes plunged in 2008 and 2009, terminal operators suffered deep losses and were forced to reduce costs by cutting one OffPeak shift and other types of service. Now that cargo volumes are picking up again, the MTOs are reinstating services to address congestion, such as increasing labor levels by 37 percent since January 2010.