Terminal Operations: Oakland

Oakland Marine Terminal Night Gate Initiative Wins Industry Award

California’s trucking industry earlier this month honored a Port of Oakland marine terminal for easing the state’s containerized cargo crunch. Oakland International Container Terminal received the first-ever Terminal Recognition Award for opening its gates at night.

The California and Harbor trucking associations presented the honor at a conference in Long Beach. The organizations also recognized Long Beach Container Terminal and Yusen Terminals of Los Angeles.

The associations said the awards were to recognize improvements in seaport efficiency. "The Oakland program was an example of a win-win situation between marine terminal operators and truckers," said Peter Schneider, chair of the California Trucking Association’s Northern California Intermodal Conference.

Oakland International Container Terminal processes about 70 percent of the port’s container throughput.
The terminal opened night gates to truckers beginning last summer to ease daytime crowding. It was the first terminal in the harbor to extend operations beyond traditional 8-to-5 hours. The port calculates the change has reduced average transaction times by 40 percent.

Other steps Oakland has taken to hasten cargo flow:

•    A $1.6 million incentive program for terminals to extend gate hours
•    An appointment system for harbor truckers picking up cargo
•    Off-dock locations to conduct transactions without entering busy terminals
•    A mobile app providing transaction times to truck drivers and dispatchers
•    Operational information on the web including transaction times and live camera footage of terminal gate activity 

"We’ve fundamentally changed the way we do business in Oakland," said John Driscoll, the port’s maritime director. "Partners like Oakland International Container Terminal are key to the transformation and we’re pleased that they’re being recognized for their leadership."