The cargo-rich harbor ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach,
both seeing a rapid jump in demand for transportation for one year or more,
is pushing ahead with overnight and weekend shifts and offering extended time at their terminal gates to give truckers and maritime workers more time to work amid fears of retail shortages during the upcoming holiday shopping season.
Freight acceleration plans to address congestion
The executive director of the Long Beach Harbor Authority said it is now expanding to warehouses and railroad companies to address congestion that stretches from the West Coast to the East Coast.
The plan, called Freight Acceleration,
is the first step toward a 24/7 supply chain and was launched with input from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the two ports.
Freight acceleration plans lack detail
The deputy general manager of the Port of Long Beach said more carriers will take advantage of the new night gates to scale up,
but one official said the lack of details raises questions about how incentives and corrective measures will be applied to those who move cargo during off-peak hours.
On Sept. 17, the number of ships docked in Los Angeles and Long Beach reached 147,
breaking the record three times in one week.