Aug 15, 2005 9:16 AM, from staff and wire reports

Truckers use the OffPeak gates at the Hanjin terminal. (Photo courtesy of the Port of Long Beach).

PierPASS Inc announced heavy usage during the first two weeks of the OffPeak program, which established night and Saturday shifts at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to relieve congestion in and around the California ports.

Before OffPeak’s launch July 23, PierPASS had set a goal of moving 15% to 20% of cargo during OffPeak shifts after the first 12 months of operation. But during the first two weeks of the program, OffPeak shifts were typically handling nearly 30% of daily cargo traffic. More than 88,000 truck trips were shifted out peak-hour traffic during the first two weeks.

Under the OffPeak program, all international container terminals in the two ports have established five new shifts per week (Monday through Thursday from 6 pm to 3 am and Saturday from 8 am to 6 pm Pacific Time). As an incentive to use the new OffPeak shifts, a Traffic Mitigation Fee is now required for most cargo movement during peak hours (Monday through Friday, 3 am to 6 pm).

PierPASS has also extended the hours of the customer service center. It is now open Monday through Friday from 6 am through 3 am and Saturdays from 8 am through 5 pm.