SoCal terminal operators organize to collect container tax

SoCal terminal operators organize to collect container tax West Coast marine terminal operators on Tuesday said they have been contracted by the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles to begin collecting a $35-per-TEU tax required by the ports’ truck re-regulation program that began on Oct. 1.
   To comply with the regulation, members of the West Coast Marine Terminal Operator Agreement have established PortCheck Inc. On Oct. 22, the two neighboring ports signed an agreement with the PortCheck organization under which the marine terminal operators would become the gatekeepers of the truck program.
   Under terms of the agreement, the terminal operators will collect the tax on each container moving into or out of the two ports’ terminals, excluding moves between terminals, and continue enforcing a ports-mandated ban on all pre-1989 trucks that took effect Oct. 1.
   The PortCheck system relies on radio frequency identification devices on the drayage fleet vehicles and readers at the terminals.
   PortCheck expects to begin collection of the container tax after resolving lingering software issues with the system that will communicate with the individual terminal’s computer systems. The organization expects these problems to be resolved and collection of the tax to begin sometime in November.
   Under the ports' truck program, beneficial cargo owners will be responsible for paying the container tax.
   Until the organization Web site is fully complete, PortCheck officials urge cargo owners to register on the PierPASS site at www.pierpass-tmf.org, and to familiarize themselves with the process.
   The West Coast Marine Terminal Operator Agreement was formed through an agreement filed with the Federal Maritime Commission to allow the 13 marine terminal operators serving the two Southern California ports to communicate, discuss and agree on collective matters.
   WCMTOA members are:
   ' APM Terminals Pacific Ltd.
   ' California United Terminals Inc.
   ' Eagle Marine Services Ltd.
   ' International Transportation Service Inc.
   ' Long Beach Container Terminal.
   ' Pacific Maritime Services LLC.
   ' Total Terminals LLC.
   ' TraPac Inc.
   ' Seaside Transportation Service LLC.
   ' SSA Terminal (Long Beach) LLC.
   ' SSA Terminals LLC.
   ' West Basin Container Terminal LLC.
   ' Yusen Terminals Inc.