PierPass registrations increase

PierPass registrations increase    With just over a week to go before the start of the PierPass off-peak gate operations, port terminal operators in Los Angeles and Long Beach said 3,400 importers, truckers and other port users have registered for the system and are eligible to pick up cargo during the daytime.
   Under the PierPass program, terminals will assess a fee of $40 per TEU on containers that are picked up during peak hours (3 a.m. to 6 p.m.) by truck. Cargo owners are responsible for paying the fee and must register with the program so their container moves can be tracked for billing purposes. Service providers can also register to pay the fee for their customers and truckers are encouraged to register so they can access the system and see if the fee has been paid and the container available for pick up.
   Registration, which is up from 2,300 at the beginning of the month, has been slower than PierPass officials expected. PierPass officials have promoted how many companies have joined the program, but there are tens of thousands of port users by conservative estimates that have not signed up yet.
   The PierPass Offpeak program is scheduled to commence night gate operations for trucks on July 23 and begin charging the daytime traffic mitigation fee on July 25.