Research

AR 04-01

A Study of Drayage at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach

Kristen Monaco
California State University, Long Beach
Department of Economics
1250 Bellflower Boulevard
Long Beach, CA  90840
Tel:  (562) 985-5076
Fax:  (562) 985-5804
Email:  kmonaco@csulb.edu

Lisa Grobar
California State University, Long Beach
Department of Economics
1250 Bellflower Blvd.
Long Beach, CA  90840-4602
Tel: 562-985-1652
Fax: 562-985-5804
E-mail: Lgrobar@csulb.edu

Project Objective:
Nearly one-half of all loaded containers entering the US come through the ports of Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Oakland. Congestion at the ports is a pressing issue for effective goods movement. The combined burden of inefficiencies due to traffic congestion and pollution from trucks idling at ports led to the passage of California Assembly Bill 2650 (the Lowenthal Bill, named after its sponsor) in August of 2002. The bill fines marine terminals for each truck waiting at the terminal in excess of 30 minutes.  In response to the implementation of this Bill, a scheduling system has been implemented at the Port of Long Beach to minimize truck waiting times. 

The research assesses the impact of the Lowenthal Bill on key aspects of port operations and goods movement, including harbor drayage, extended gate hours and gate appointments.  Using survey results from 60 drayage firms and drivers at the port, the analysis includes use of the appointment system by truckers and trends in wages and working conditions.

The analysis indicates that the port drayage labor force largely consists of relatively low-educated Hispanic immigrants who receive no return from additional years of education, tenure with the firm, or other measures of human capital.  Surveys also confirm that drivers spend a significant portion of their workday waiting at the ports.  Though firms indicate that they utilize the appointment systems at available terminals, most do not use the system consistently. Though truck turn time data provides some evidence that time spent inside terminal facilities has decreased on average, the mean time inside the gates is still high. 

The data sources all reveal potential sources of improvements in truck productivity.  Consistent use of appointment times at the ports should decrease driver’s waiting time, allowing them to increase individual productivity.  There is also potential to improve firm efficiency by using software for dispatching and routing, perhaps better coordinating drivers’ trips to the ports.  The turn time data provides initial evidence that trucking companies who establish long-term relationships with specific shippers and terminals can generate a significant reduction in turn times, increasing driver productivity.  

Project Poster

Tasks:
A. Data Collection: Driver Surveys
B. Wait Time Estimation
C. Data Collection: Firm Level Survey

Milestones/Dates
January 1, 2004-December 15, 2004

Total Budget
$34,678

Student Involvement
1 graduate student

Relationship to other research projects
Related to METRANS 04-06, Evaluation of the Terminal Gate Appointment System at the Los Angeles/Long Beach ports