Truck turn times down at Port of Oakland

Truckers are getting in and out of the Port of Oakland faster, thanks to recent improvements at the port's marine terminals, officials said this week.

The port reported average truck turn times of between 62 minutes and 72 minutes at Oakland marine terminals in May, down from a high of 92 minutes in January. Turn times measure how long it takes freight haulers to drop off or pick up cargo containers. Faster turn times mean that customers get their cargo quicker and that freight haulers can make more trips every day, port officials said.

"It's an encouraging sign for all of us," Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll said in a statement announcing the improvements on June 6. "It indicates that we're operating more efficiently for the benefit of the global supply chain."

Port officials attribute the turn time improvements to a series of steps the port has taken over the past three years, including:

• The addition of night shifts to ease daytime terminal crowding;
• A requirement for appointments before truckers can pick up cargo; and
• Completion of a two-year, $67 million expansion at TraPac terminal.

The Port said turn times were often two hours or more before operational changes took hold.