PierPass Changes Set to Take Effect Nov. 19

Companies moving containers through the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will no longer have to pay congestion surcharges and instead will pay a flat fee of either $31.52 per 20-foot equivalent unit or $63.04 for other size containers starting Nov. 19, PierPass said. Companies will need to register with PierPass if they have not already, because all trucks bringing containers out of the ports will need to make an appointment. Nine of the 12 terminals at the two adjacent ports already use appointment systems, so most trucking firms serving the ports are already using these systems, the press release announcing the change said. The marine terminals will offer common appointment windows and common last appointment times for each shift.

The date of the change is subject to Federal Maritime Commission procedures. "The changes to the OffPeak program are being made in response to requests from port users, who seek increased flexibility and a reduction in the bunching up of trucks that often occurs before the start of the nighttime OffPeak shifts," the West Coast MTO Agreement members said. The changes were announced in April (see 1805010048). PierPass also posted an updated questions and answers document on the upcoming changes.