LA, Long Beach Ports join truck tagging programme

PIERPASS Inc. says container terminals at the US Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will require trucks to be equipped with TruckTags to get access to terminals from December onwards.

Trucks without TruckTags will be processed through exception handling, which may include being denied access or processing via a trouble ticket. Trucking companies that have already received tags should install the tags on their trucks now and register the tag numbers in the eModal TruckerCheck programme, which will activate the truck in the system, a PierPASS statement said.

The TruckTag programme is a part of efforts by box terminal operators in Los Angeles and Long Beach to meet US Department of Homeland Security and US Coast Guard guidelines requiring terminals to enhance their security measures.

TruckTag uses radio frequency identification technology to meet these heightened security requirements. "Implementing the TruckTag programme enhances the security of southern California's marine terminals without hindering the flow of goods," said PierPASS president and CEO Bruce Wargo.

The two adjacent ports together handle more than 40 per cent of the nation's total import traffic and 24 per cent of its total exports. On average there are more than 180,000 truck deliveries to and from the marine terminals every week. Similar to E-ZPass and FasTrak automated systems, RFID tags installed near the driver's rear view mirror are automatically read at marine terminal gate entrances using specialised scanning antennas that validate the security clearance of the truck.