The very successful PierPass program will be making changes that are expected to take place in the fourth quarter of this year. It is informally known as PierPass 2.0, and the change will replace the current congestion pricing model with an appointment-based system. They will use a single TEU (twenty foot equivalent)-based flat fee on both daytime and nighttime container moves. The change is in response to port user requests to increase flexibility and address the trucks that are often lining up before the start of the OffPeak shifts.
The current TMF (traffic mitigation fee) of $72.09 per TEU will be replaced by a flat fee of $31.52 per TEU. The rate for all other sizes will be a flat fee of $63.04. There are a few exemptions such as empty containers or empty chassis; import or export cargo that transits the Alameda corridor in a container that is subject to a fee imposed by the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority; Domestic Cargo; and Transshipment Cargo. The new program will also help facilitate more dual transactions since it will be easier to pair container drop-offs and pick-ups if the rate is the same for day and night pick-ups. The flat fee will also deter truckers from lining up outside the gate while waiting for OffPeak hours to begin – this should help mitigate congestion at the port. For more information you can visit the PierPass Q&A page or Pierpass website.