Port of Los Angeles Launches 'Peel Off' Program to Combat Congestion

Officials from the Port of Los Angeles introduced a new program to handle some of the backed up shipping containers that are clogging up busy West Coast seaports. The "Peel Off" program allows containers from major customers to be moved to a specific area where truck drivers can move them to distribution centers, according to the Press Telegram.

According to a statement released by the Port of Los Angeles, the port teamed up with The Pasha Group stevedoring company, trucking firm Total Transportation Services Inc. (TTSI), marine container terminal operators and major retailers. Containers from "high-volume customers" are sent to a yard near the dock on port property, where they are sorted for distribution centers.

"We have found an efficient way to get containers to their destination that is beginning to pay off," Port of Los Angeles executive director Gene Seroka said in the statement. "We're acting on our pledge to our customers to harmonize the supply chain and make it work better. Permanently." Seroka also said that while the program is aimed at high-volume shippers, it would cause a ripple effect where all customers see positive results.

The 17-acre yard is open six days a week from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. and holds up to 500 containers, but as demand grows, it could be open 24/7 and hold up to 650 containers. This allows cargo owners to move containers in less than two days at night, when the traffic in the Los Angeles area is not as bad.

According to the Press Telegram, the plan has been in development for months leading up to its Feb. 25 launch. It derived from years of discussions between ports about better ways to move goods in and out faster.

TTSI has leased 250 chassis so far, and hopes to lease up to 4,000 in the future. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union is currently handling maintenance and repair of the chassis as well as other work in the yard.

Port spokesman Phillip Sanfield told the Press Telegram that other port properties are currently being considered as potential staging sites.