Port Newark, NJ – The Association of Bi-State Motor Carriers, which represents over 70% of the port and container traffic and more than 130 trucking and trucking industry-related companies doing business at Port Newark today called for immediate steps to be taken to remedy major problems affecting the Port.
Members of the Association are facing huge financial losses on a daily basis because the terminals that handle all of the freight in Port Newark cannot meet the volume of truck traffic. This has caused long lines of traffic which can last up to eight hours to just enter the terminals.
“The Association of Bi-State Motor Carriers has welcomed the establishment of a Port Performance Task Force created by the Port Authority of NY/NJ and the opportunity to have our members serve on subcommittees in order to ensure that the many problems affecting the trucking industry in the Ports are rectified,” said Jeff Bader, President of the Association of Bi-State Motor Carriers.
“However, Port Productivity has not improved and remains a major economic hurdle for Association members. Turn times and productivity issues that Association members are experiencing is making it impossible for us to serve our customers. There are some suggestions that can be incorporated immediately that can alleviate the problematic situation while we wait for the Port Performance Task Force to conduct their meetings and produce their report this spring.”
The Association of Bi-State Motor Carriers recommends taking the following immediate steps:
- Terminals should be opened longer hours to create the ability to allow cargo and containers to be interchanged
- Steamship lines need to step up and help remedy the situation by encouraging its subcontracting terminals to extend operating hours and to freeze demurrage charges both line and terminal when there are delays at the terminals
- Hiring of additional licensed waterfront commission workers by the ILA and increasing the number of workers per shift to handle volume of cargo
- Port Authority police should cut lines at the tail end and not turn away trucks that are at the front of a line to enter a terminal after waiting for hours
“Increasing efficiency and productivity at the Port will not only affect association members but the entire Northeast region by increasing economic opportunities,” added Bader. “We hope that the steamship lines, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and everyone associated with Port Newark can begin taking these immediate steps to ensure our industry thrives instead of fighting for survival which it is doing right now.”