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Oakland terminal enacts mandatory trucker appointments for import pickups

OAKLAND International Container Terminal (OICT) has announced it making appointments mandatory for most container import pick-ups from June 6.

This means harbour truckers usually won't be able to drive off with loaded boxes without a reservation, reports the American Journal of Transportation.

The terminal said it aims to shorten lines at terminal gates while speeding up cargo delivery to customers.

"We applaud this move," said Oakland port maritime director John Driscoll. "This is the largest marine terminal in Oakland and they're taking all possible steps to improve trade flow."

The terminal said it will require appointments for drivers picking up containers from import delivery lanes. These are rows of containers discharged from ships and stacked five-high.

Mandatory import reservations are an extension of the terminal's existing appointment system, OICT said. Appointments to enter terminal gates are already available, it explained.

But the terminal said it will not require appointments for other transactions such as empty container return. It added that appointments won't be required for three unique types of import pick-ups:

Also unaffected are peel-offs, which enable drivers to take the first container from a stack of imports all intended for the same customer.

Also unaffected are dray-offs, which are imports transported to a nearby facility and available for pick-up around the clock and pre-mounted loads, which are import containers affixed to chassis and ready for immediate hauling over the road.