Port of Oakland Starts Working Extended Hours

Port of Oakland has been approved an amount of USD 1.5 million to increase access hours for harbor truck drivers at the terminals from February 13, 2016, as the port aims to open its terminal gates at night and weekends.

Added hours are central to plans for redistributing cargo when one of five Oakland marine terminals closes. Outer Harbor Terminals LLC, formerly known as Ports America Outer Harbor LLC, has filed for bankruptcy and said it is leaving the Port of Oakland. The terminal is expected to cease vessel operations March 31.

“Extending terminal gate hours is an important way to improve cargo flow through the port,” said John Driscoll, the Port’s Maritime Director.

“It’s also crucial as we make the transition from five to four active terminals.”

This program is expected to smooth the transition when Outer Harbor Terminals LLC exits Oakland.

The port has said it will redirect ships and cargo from Outer Harbor Terminal to adjacent terminals. Extended hours should get truckers through terminal gates faster and help the terminals absorb added volume, the port said.

Night and weekend gates will also aid harbor truckers by allowing them to avoid peak weekday hours at terminals for certain transactions.

The port said its program will provide funding to eligible terminal operators for up to 12 weeks, and added that it will reimburse terminal operators up to 50 percent of the cost of operating extended-hour gates.

During the 12-week program, the port should provide reimbursement for up to five extended-hour shifts per week.