Starting with Norfolk International Terminals (NIT), Virginia Port Authority chief John Reinhart said concrete steps are being taken into correct below part operational harbour truck efficiency, according to Shipping Gazette.
At NIT the focus will be speeding up the throughput of freight carried by truck, reports the American Journal of Transportation.
Express or Pop-and-Go (PNG) lanes at the transfer zones have been introduced to increase the velocity of dual transactions. The PNG lane is only for one-way export and empty container moves.
These lanes handle 10 per cent to 15 per cent of transfer zone volume and the average transaction time is 30 minutes, said the report.
The task force running the show will be a 10-member steering committee and five working groups to focus on turn times, cutting gates time, chassis availability and regulating truck flow in and out.
Areas of emphasis include an appointment system, terminal movement, reefers, chassis dynamics, empty yards and the entrance gate.
The team will be composed of representatives from truckers, service providers, the International Longshoremen's Association, ocean carriers, shippers and US Customs and Border Protection.
Significant changes are being made to the programming technology to reflect new processes, such as the N4 terminal operating system using global positioning System (GPS) to locate and track containers.
The version being debuted May 1 will be implemented only at NIT. A new appointment system that works with the N4 terminal operating system will be phased-in following full implementation of N4.
Thirty-two new hustlers delivered to NIT are to be integrated into operations at the central rail yard (CRY) soon.