Port Proposes Shift in Cargo "Free Time"

LONG BEACH, CA—The Port of Long Beach has proposed a new policy to change cargo delivery time at the dock, known as “free time,” from four days to six shifts, which would be known as “flexible free time.” The change would help to expedite cargo delivery, which is reaching record-breaking numbers. If the plan is approved by the Board of Harbor Commissioners, the Port of Long Beach would be the first in the world to use shifts instead of days to measure the time that cargo containers sit at the dock without being charged.

The port proposed the solution in response to the call for faster delivery times and increased availability. “The bigger shifts are bringing in more volume at one time, and they are essentially causing a high inventory of containers at our terminals. That is putting a strain on our terminals’ ability to deliver containers quickly,” Noel Hacegaba, chief commercial officer at the Port of Long Beach, tells GlobeSt.com. “By changing from days to shifts, you are giving the cargo owners the flexibility to decide how many shifts per day they will be offering depending on their cargo inventory levels. The advantage for the cargo owners is that depending how many shifts the cargo owner makes available, they’ll have anywhere from three to six days to collect their container.”