WEST COAST PORTS TASK FORCE EXPLORES NIGHTTIME TERMINAL GATES

WEST COAST PORTS TASK FORCE EXPLORES NIGHTTIME TERMINAL GATES    The West Coast Waterfront Coalition has created a task force to identify the steps necessary to initiate a pilot program that would shift some freight operations to extended gate hours.
   The coalition's task force, which comprises 15 members representing shippers, carriers, terminal operators, labor and ports, met last week in Long Beach. The group is charged with identifying impediments to moving forward with the pilot program, and developing a work plan to overcome those impediments.
   “One of the most difficulties in moving forward with nighttime gates is the lack of communication between truckers, shippers and steamship companies,” said Robin Lanier, executive director of the coalition. “There are other costs of moving to nighttime operations, which must be borne by everyone. However, the costs to business of doing nothing about port and road congestion are becoming unacceptably high in terms of lost productivity, a short-haul driver shortage, and the prospect for legislative mandates that will not work for anyone.”
   Among the action steps outlined by the task force are a study of incremental costs to terminal and trucking companies of shifting a portion of freight pickups and drop-offs to nighttime hours, as well as identifying and lobbying top exporters and importers to shift warehouse operations to nighttime hours.
   The task force is scheduled to meet again in Long Beach for a two-day working session on August 29-30.