Following consultation with multiple supply chain stakeholders and the US Department of Transportation, the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles have announced new measures to improve freight movement and reduce delays through the ports as they continue to experience record volumes.
These measures will enhance the ports’ landside operations to help meet the unprecedented growth in cargo volume moving through the San Pedro Bay, according to a statement on 17 September.
Specifically, both ports will expand the hours during which trucks can pick up and return containers.
Mario Cordero, Executive Director of the Port of Long Beach, announced that Long Beach will take the first step towards a 24/7 supply chain by maximising night-time operations.
Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka announced that the Port of Los Angeles will expand weekend operating gate hours. Dubbed “Accelerate Cargo LA,” the Port of Los Angeles’ programme will operate on a pilot basis to ensure that gate availability meets cargo demands and provides greater transparency to improve efficiency. In addition, both ports have called on marine terminal operators to incentivise the use of all available gate hours, especially night gates, to reduce congestion and maximise cargo throughput capacity.
Both Seroka and Cordero acknowledged the work the Biden-Harris Administration is doing in response to the unprecedented global supply chain disruption that is being acutely felt at the San Pedro Bay Port Complex.
The ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles will work closely with the trucking community to ensure that all truck operators understand how to take advantage of incentivised gate hours as well as the expanded opportunities that will be created to move cargo during non-peak times.
In addition to expanded hours and incentivized reservation priority, the ports urge terminals and the trucking community to consider other corrective measures.
Ports are critical gateways to the US economy. Approximately 70% by tonnage of all U.S.-international trade moves by water through our nation’s ports.
The San Pedro Bay ports move approximately 40% of all containerised cargo entering the US each year and about 30% of all containerised exports.
In addition to actions taken on 17 September, the ports are working closely with the White House Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force to alleviate bottlenecks and speed up the movement of goods to consumers, while expanding export opportunities for US exporters, including agricultural producers.
