Despite the ongoing freight recession, freight is flowing to the West Coast. After a difficult few years, the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are again seeing record import levels. In August, the Port of Long Beach saw a 40% increase in loaded inbound containers on a year-over-year basis. During the same period, the Port of Los Angeles experienced a 17% increase in loaded imports.
This comes at a time when the ports are laser-focused on improving their carbon footprints.
Record levels amid shifting trade dynamics
Recent trends indicate that containers diverted to East Coast ports during pandemic-related port struggles on the West Coast are returning to California. This suggests shippers recognize the strategic advantages offered by the West Coast, especially in light of ongoing issues in the Red Sea and recent, potentially ongoing labor strikes at East Coast ports.
San Pedro Bay ports have successfully ramped up operations to meet growing demand without delays, according to Charlie Doucette, director of operations at Long Beach Container Terminal. He said LBCT achieves an average of about 31 moves per hour per crane, but that number can climb as high as 33 moves on a good shift.
Noel Hacegaba, COO at the Port of Long Beach, emphasized the port’s success is the culmination of decades of planning and investment, with over $4.5 billion allocated to modernization and capacity enhancements over the past 15 years.
Looking ahead, the Port of Long Beach has an additional $2.2 billion earmarked for accelerating zero-emission initiatives over the next decade.
Sustainability in the spotlight
The Port of Long Beach’s current and planned sustainability-focused innovations are not happening in a vacuum. Neighboring Port of Los Angeles, Southern California logistics providers, local entrepreneurs and California state government are all rallying behind a more eco-conscious supply chain.
The ports and other logistics organizations are motivated to decarbonize their operations in part by California’s 2017 Clean Air Action Plan Update, which set the ports on a course to transition terminal equipment to zero emissions by 2030 and on-road drayage trucks by 2035.
This ambitious goal requires a variety of stakeholders to unite their efforts. Transportation providers, as well as the ports themselves, must focus on making the switch to zero-emission vehicles.
Talon lives on the cutting edge
The push for zero-emission vehicles is driving innovation within the industry. Companies like Talon Logistics are at the forefront of this transition, already deploying battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell trucks. By becoming an early adopter – and innovator – in the zero-emission space, Talon has positioned itself as a leader among its peers and a proverbial lighthouse for shippers working to meet ambitious sustainability goals.
Education plays a vital role in the transition to zero-emission vehicles, and Talon works hard to inform shippers about the benefits of adopting these new technologies now. Talon Director of Business Strategy Isaac Castañeda pointed out the importance of building holistic and infomed partnerships within the growing eco-friendly business environment in order to reach near-parity with diesel costs while simultaneously moving toward sustainability.
For the folks at Talon, climate-positive business practices are about more than just reaching government-imposed deadlines, though.
“We want to be in the forefront. We are a community, we live here, our kids are going to live here,” Castañeda said. “Who doesn’t want clean air? What can we do little by little, trucker by trucker, life by life?”
Building infrastructure to support a zero-emission future
To scale up zero-emissions efforts successfully, appropriate charging infrastructure must also be built to scale. That is where partnerships with companies like charging provider Forum Mobility come into play.
“We built a team and we got to work,” said Ron Hunt, regional director of business development at Forum Mobility. “So far, we’ve already had a pilot customer running electric trucks in the drayage market in Southern California for almost two years, running over 200,000 miles.”
That test customer serves as an inspiration for others in the area hoping to achieve the same results. Forum is working alongside other industry players to create the infrastructure that makes that possible.
Forum’s first charging depot housed inside the Port of Long Beach is under construction and slated to open at the end of the year. The station will add more charging infrastructure to the port’s 100 active chargers.
Harnessing alternative power at Pier Wind
The Port of Long Beach is also looking to increase its energy options in more unique ways. One of the most innovative initiatives underway at the Port of Long Beach is the development of Pier Wind, a groundbreaking project that aims to support California’s goal of generating 25 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2045.
“Imagine fully assembled wind turbines capable of generating 20 megawatts of energy towed by sea from the Port of Long Beach to offshore wind farms in Central and Northern California,” said Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero. “As society transitions to clean energy, our harbor is ideally located for such an enterprise – with calm seas behind a federal breakwater, one of the deepest and widest channels in the U.S., direct access to the open ocean, and no air height restrictions.”
This project not only aligns with the state’s renewable energy targets but also positions the Port of Long Beach as a standout leader in sustainable energy solutions. By harnessing offshore wind, the port aims to significantly reduce its carbon footprint while bolstering its energy supply for future operations.
Collaboration as a path forward
A holistic approach to improving sustainability is crucial. This includes creating an environment of collaboration – not competition – between human workers and modern technologies. Hacegaba acknowledged the vast contributions of the labor force alongside the port’s ongoing technological advancements.
“We would not be here without our labor force. We recognize the value of technology, but we also recognize the value of our workforce,” Hacegaba said.
That collaborative spirit extends to industry partners as well. The relationship between the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach has historically been strong. Since the introduction of the Cleaner Action Plan in 2005, they have worked together toward common environmental goals. As the industry grapples with changing regulations and the need for innovation, fostering relationships among other stakeholders — from motor carriers to shippers — is also critical for navigating these challenges.
The journey to a sustainable and efficient port complex is ongoing. Leaders in the industry are committed to making incremental improvements, believing that each step contributes to a healthier environment for future generations.
With a focus on collaboration, innovation and education, organizations like Talon and the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are not just adapting to change –– they are shaping a resilient future for global trade.
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