LONG BEACH JOINS EFFORT TO REDUCE TRUCK CONGESTION

LONG BEACH JOINS EFFORT TO REDUCE TRUCK CONGESTION    The Port of Long Beach said it would help sponsor a pilot project aimed at extending off-peak hours for port terminals to help reduce traffic congestion.
   Last month, the Waterfront Coalition, which represents importers, exporters, ocean carriers, terminal operators and other port users, said it would start a pilot project to demonstrate the feasibility of longer gate hours for trucks. The coalition recently changed its name from the West Coast Waterfront Coalition.
   Long Beach's gates are open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The trucking industry has repeatedly called for marine terminals to remain open longer, but terminals claim there is not sufficient truck traffic to make such a change economical. But most local warehouses and distribution centers are not open during irregular hours to accept shipments from drayage trucks.
   The port authority said it would put $10,000 towards the coalition's pilot project, which will survey warehouses and distribution centers in southern California to identify companies that are willing to receive and deliver containers during off-peak hours. The goal is to generate sufficient truck trips to support second and third shifts in the ports.