Terminal operators at the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach are planning to require trucking companies to make appointments to pick up and deliver cargo, but a survey shows three-quarters of trucking execs think that hasn't been helpful in the past.

Three container terminals at the Los Angele-Long Beach port complex already make appointments for truckers - Total Terminals International, West Basin Container Terminal, and Seaside Transportation Systems' Evergreen terminal. The COSCO terminal, California United Terminal, Long Beach Container Terminal, the SSAT Pier A terminal, the Yusen (NYK) Terminal, the APL Terminal and the APM (Maersk) terminal are expected to begin implementing appointment systems between now and September.

According to the presentation made to trucking company executives:

• Appointments are for full import containers.
• The container off the ship before an appoitment can be made.
• Appointments for exports, empties and chassis are optional at this time.
• Appointments are required for full import containers on all shifts.
• Appointments are not transferable to another trucker or container.
• Appointments can be cancelled or rescheduled to open time slots.
• Appointments can be made same day, same shift for open time slots.
• An appointment window is 2.0 hours, plus a grace period of 30 minutes on each side.
• Truckers without appointments will be asked to leave or go to a waiting area for resolution, at the terminal's discretion.

The appointments for cargo pickup will be made through the Internet. The terminal operators acknowledge that using the system will require enhanced planning by trucking companies and the beneficial cargo owners.

The terminal operators sent out a survey to 500 trucking companies to quiz them on their attitudes and expectations. Of the 127 companies that responded, 88.9 percent said they had used an appointment system before, but 75.8 percent said they had not found appointment systems helpful.

When it came to picking up import containers, therespondents said 49.6 percent of their customers wanted their loads picked up from the terminal after 6 p.m. For export containers, 56.7 percent wanted their loads delivered after 6 p.m.

Terminal Operators PowerPoint

-- The Cunningham Report