Port of Oakland has announced that TraPac, its second-largest terminal, will open its night gates to accelerate containerized cargo flow.
The second shift for harbour truckers will begin on October 15, 2018, and will enable thousands of drivers to pick up or drop off Oakland containerized cargo from 6 pm to 3 am, Monday through to Thursday.
This means that freight haulers can access the terminal outside busier daytime hours, with harbour drivers able to pick up import containers or drop off exports to perform a range of cargo transactions at night
Port officials said night operations should accelerate cargo flow while reducing truck queues that sometimes build outside terminal gates.
Oakland International Container Terminal, the port’s largest terminal, introduced night gates at the Port two years ago.
Together, the terminals handle about 80% of all containerized cargo in Oakland.
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Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll said: “This is a big step forward for TraPac and the Port’s customers.
“We want cargo to move as quickly as possible through the Port and we’re grateful that our terminal operators share that conviction.”
The terminal said it would assess a USD $30 fee on all loaded containers moving in or out of TraPac beginning October 29, 2018, which will cover night gate costs, principally for additional labour.
TraPac is in the midst of a two-year project to double the size of its Oakland operations.
The terminal expects to conclude construction by year-end.