PierPass Fee
Definition of the PierPass fee
The PierPass fee is a charge applied to cargo containers moving through the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
The fee is part of the Traffic Mitigation Fee (TMF) program, which was introduced to reduce congestion and manage the flow of traffic at these ports. It’s also aimed at spreading out truck traffic, which can help mitigate the effects of air pollution.
Why is the PierPass fee necessary?
The PierPass fee is vital for managing congestion at two of the busiest ports in the United States. It encourages off-peak cargo movements, which then helps avoid bottlenecks during peak hours.
How to get the PierPass Fee
To access and manage the PierPass fee, shippers and logistics companies must register with the PierPass program.
Once registered, they can schedule container pickups and deliveries through a system designed to distribute cargo movement more evenly throughout the day. The fee is automatically applied depending on the time slots chosen.
When is the PierPass fee charged?
The PierPass fee is charged whenever cargo containers are moved through the ports during designated operational hours.
Initially, the fee varied depending on whether the move was made during peak or off-peak hours. However, under the updated PierPass 2.0 system, a flat fee is now applied regardless of the time of day.
What are some examples of the PierPass fee?
An example of the PierPass fee in action could be when a logistics company plans deliveries at night to avoid higher congestion during daytime hours. Or if a freight forwarder schedules container pickups during off-peak hours.
Both cases demonstrate how the fee helps balance cargo movements.
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