TraPac, second-largest marine terminal, goes to second shift starting Oct. 15
Another Port of Oakland marine terminal operator said that it’s opening night gates to accelerate containerized cargo flow. TraPac, Oakland’s second-largest terminal, plans to add a second shift for harbor truckers beginning Oct. 15.
The move enables thousands of drivers to pick up or drop off Oakland containerized cargo from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m., Monday-through-Thursday. That would give freight haulers access to the terminal outside busier daytime hours. Port officials said night operations should accelerate cargo flow while reducing truck queues that sometimes build outside terminal gates.
“This is a big step forward for TraPac and the Port’s customers,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll. “We want cargo to move as quickly as possible through the Port and we’re grateful that our terminal operators share that conviction.”
TraPac becomes the second major marine terminal in Oakland to open at night for harbor truckers. Oakland International Container Terminal, the Port’s largest terminal, introduced night gates at the Port two years ago. Together the terminals process about 80 percent of all containerized cargo in Oakland.
The Port said night operations would provide benefits across the supply chain, including:
- Faster cargo delivery to customers;
- Less downtime for drivers; and
- An end to marine terminal congestion.
TraPac said harbor drivers would be allowed to perform the range of cargo transactions at night. Those including picking up import containers or dropping off exports.
The terminal said it will assess a $30 fee on all loaded containers moving in or out of TraPac beginning October 29. The fee will cover night gate costs, principally for additional labor, the terminal explained.
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.
