Pier pass : A Quick Introduction ( 2024 )
Pier pass, what the hell is that ?
You may be confused with some chargeable items on the freight invoice when you import from China to USA.
Pier pass is one of the freight terminologies you may never meet before.
And you can’t avoid its standard charge when send container shipments to Los Angels port to Long Beach port.
Today, I’m going you provide you a quick introduction to it.
Let’s get started.
What is pier pass ?
PierPass Inc. is a not-for-profit company created by the West Coast MTO Agreement (WCMTOA) member container terminal operators.
The OffPeak program established regular night and Saturday work shifts to handle trucks delivering and picking up containers at the 12 container terminals in the two adjacent ports.
Who is the target object ?
The pierpass only applicable to Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach.
Why pierpass created ?
To address multi-terminal issues, especially reduce severe cargo-related congestion on local streets and highways around LA and LB ports.
Nearly half of all port truck trips now take place during the off-peak shifts.
The container terminal operators mitigate truck traffic at their gates with appointment systems that spread truck trips out over the hours of operation.
When pier pass was carried out ?
Pier pass launched the OffPeak program in 2005.
How much is pier pass fee ?
As an incentive to use the OffPeak shifts and to cover the added cost of the shifts, a Traffic Mitigation Fee (TMF) is required for most cargo movement during peak hours.
Beginning August 1st 2020, the pierpass fee will be :
• $33.47 / 20ft container
• $66.94 /40ft or 40hq
Bonus Tips
1. Only charged when using FCL service.
If you ship via LCL , air shipping or courier service to US, then there are no pier pass fee.
2. Only applicable to LA and LB
i.e when POD is other ports in United States, then pierpass fee also doesn’t exist.
Use our seaports map to identify the discharge ports for sea shipments to US.
3. Charged as per container amount, not per B/L
Suppose your shipment is 5 x 40 HQ containers to LA, then pier pass fee is 5 x 64.24 = $321.2, not just $64.24
