TraPac marine terminal has introduced full-service night gates Mondays through Thursdays for Port of Oakland harbor truckers to ease daytime crowding and accelerate containerized cargo deliveries.
Drivers can pick up or drop off cargo from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. Daytime hours — 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. — remain unchanged.
The move replaces twice-a-week night gates at TraPac that offered only limited transactions for freight haulers. The terminal said truckers now may deliver export containers, collect imports and pick up empty containers or container chassis.
TraPac becomes the second marine terminal in Oakland to open at night for harbor truckers. Oakland International Container Terminal introduced extended hours two years ago.
TraPac said freight haulers should be able to complete transactions quickly at night because traffic is lighter. The terminal added that daytime truck queues should shrink as a portion of volume will shift to nights.
Through Friday, TraPac will require appointments to pick up imports. Beginning Monday, appointments will be required for imports, exports and the return of empty containers. Appointments won’t be needed to pick up empty containers.
TraPac said it will assess a $30 fee on all loaded containers during day and night shifts starting Monday to defray the cost of extended operating hours. Loaded containers leaving the terminal via rail won’t be assessed a fee.
Night gates are the latest in a series of 2018 changes at TraPac in Oakland. Earlier this year, the terminal opened a new entrance gate complex for harbor truckers. Next month TraPac will complete a two-year expansion to double the size of its Oakland footprint.