Port of Long Beach - Experts & Thought Leaders

A comprehensive Port of Long Beach digital platform being designed to help speed cargo deliveries across the nation, the Supply Chain Information Highway, is getting an infusion of funding from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration. The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) announced a $7.875 million grant for the Port’s data system today. Funding is expected to help build out a variety of functions including export and rail cargo visibility, user authentication and data security, the exchange of data between foreign ports, truck appointments and a number of future project enhancements that will enhance operational efficiency and customer service. Goods movement efficiency The cloud-based system is anticipated to be compatible with similar data-sharing platforms The Supply Chain Information Highway will enable stakeholders to make scheduling, planning and operational decisions prior to cargo arrival, making the delivery of goods more efficient and cost effective.  The cloud-based system is anticipated to be compatible with similar data-sharing platforms across the maritime logistics industry, including at major California ports, supporting improved supply chain resilience, goods movement efficiency, emissions reductions, and economic competitiveness. "With six marine terminals at the Port of Long Beach now connecting to a beta version of the Supply Chain Information Highway, we’ve entered a crucial phase of development," said Port of Long Beach CEO - Mario Cordero, adding "We are grateful to the State of California and GO-Biz for their continued leadership in supporting data modernisation to bolster goods movement. This funding will be important as we roll out these new enhancements to increase cargo velocity and tighten coordination across modes of transportation." Collaborative data system "We’re very excited with how this product – free to registered users – will help the more than 200,000 shippers who use the Port of Long Beach better plan and move cargo," said Long Beach Harbor Commission President, Bobby Olvera Jr., adding "Thank you to Governor Newsom for his continued recognition of the role the state’s seaports play in enhancing the economy and creating good-paying jobs." "California’s ports are an essential link in the global supply chain and this first-of-its-kind, collaborative data system will help ensure they remain so," said GO-Biz Director and Senior Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom, Dee Dee Myers, adding "I want to thank Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero and the rest of his team for their leadership and ongoing participation in this effort." Highway digital platform "As Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Ports and Goods Movement, I believe it is important to strive for innovative enhancements that will support jobs and help ensure the efficient movement of goods in California," said Sen. Lena Gonzalez, D-Long Beach. Sen. Lena Gonzalez adds, "I am pleased to see the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development allocating over $7 million in state funding for the Supply Chain Information Highway digital platform. Given that the Port of Long Beach is part of the ninth-busiest port complex in the world, contributing to 1 in 20 jobs in Southern California and over 2.6 million jobs nationwide, this funding will not only improve goods access for Californians but also support our communities by strengthening our economic landscape." Strengthening economic landscape "This is a win for both the port and the surrounding communities," said Assembly Member, Josh Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, adding "Data is power. With this investment from GO-Biz, we can ensure stakeholders are connecting and coordinating like never before. I’m confident that this will lead to fewer and more efficient trips and reduce unnecessary idling." "The Port of Long Beach supports 1 in 5 jobs in this city and millions across the country," said Long Beach Mayor, Rex Richardson, adding "This grant from the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development will improve access to cargo information and help speed the movement of goods to American homes and businesses even faster and more efficiently, strengthening the economy not only here in Long Beach and California, but coast-to-coast." Three operational platforms The Port of Long Beach has partnered with a tech firm, St. Louis-based UNCOMN The Port of Long Beach has partnered with a tech firm, St. Louis-based UNCOMN, to create the Supply Chain Information Highway.  UNCOMN is collaborating with Amazon Web Services to provide cloud services and cloud hosting for the data. Development is focusing on three operational platforms in 2024: A Container Track and Trace feature to access up-to-date information about the status of containers moving through the Port of Long Beach. The Port Operations Dashboard, where users can review Port of Long Beach operational metrics. The dashboard can be viewed at www.polb.com/operations. The Beneficial Cargo Owner Dashboard, where BCOs can access more detailed information about their containers including if they have arrived or departed, and which Port terminal they are at.

Zero-emissions goal energised by Forum Mobility’s new charging stations. A new charging depot that will be operated by Forum Mobility broke ground Wednesday, aimed at meeting the accelerating demand for heavy-duty electric trucks serving the Port of Long Beach. The facility, scheduled to go online in the fall, moves the Port closer toward achieving a goal of zero-emissions operations for drayage trucks by 2035. Mobility’s new charging depot “As an industry pioneer in the sustainable goods movement, we are proud to start construction on another project that will help us make dramatic reductions in air emissions and put us on the path toward becoming the world’s first zero-emissions port,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero. “Forum Mobility’s new charging depot is another way we are helping truck drivers make the switch from diesel-fueled vehicles to electric vehicles.” Drayage operations by 2035 “This new charging depot will help deliver the infrastructure needed for heavy-duty trucking to shift from diesel fuel to zero-emissions, and achieve our Clean Air Action Plan goal of 100% zero-emissions drayage operations by 2035,” said Long Beach Harbour Commission President Bobby Olvera Jr. “Forum Mobility is helping us meet our commitment to enhancing air quality for our surrounding communities, to decarbonise the supply chain to fight climate change, and to assist our local truck drivers with cost-effective solutions to operate more sustainably.” Critical freight corridors Forum Mobility has eight additional stations scheduled to open within the next two years Forum Mobility’s facility, located just north of the Long Beach International Gateway Bridge at 260 Pico Ave., will be equipped with 19 dual-port chargers and six single-dispenser chargers capable of powering up 44 heavy-duty electric trucks simultaneously in about 90 minutes – depending on battery size. In addition to the Port of Long Beach, Forum Mobility has eight additional stations scheduled to open within the next two years along critical freight corridors throughout California, including locations in Compton, the Inland Empire, Oakland and Stockton. Purchase of zero-emission “With the support of the Port of Long Beach, the Forum Mobility Harbour depot will provide drayage truckers a turnkey solution for zero-emission freight,” said Matt LeDucq, CEO and co-founder of Forum Mobility. “Our staffed and secure depots help fleets big and small go electric – but it is our customers who are pioneering the way forward to a cleaner future.” Class 8 drayage trucks operating within the San Pedro Bay ports complex The Port of Long Beach is assisting truck drivers by partnering with the Port of Los Angeles, the California Air Resources Board and CALSTART to make $60 million in Clean Truck Fund Rate funding available for vouchers toward the purchase of zero-emission, Class 8 drayage trucks operating within the San Pedro Bay ports complex. Hydrogen fuel cell truck Small trucking fleets (20 trucks and fewer) can receive up to $436,000 for a battery-electric truck, and up to $676,000 for a hydrogen fuel cell truck in incentives. Funds are available through the California Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Incentive Project (HVIP).

Trade moving through the Port of Long Beach gained momentum in April 2024, marking the eighth consecutive month of year-over-year cargo growth at the nation’s second-busiest seaport. Dockworkers and terminal operators moved 750,424 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) last month, up 14.4% from April 2023. Imports rose 16.3% to 364,665 TEUs and exports declined 19.9% to 98,266 TEUs. Empty containers moving through the Port increased by 30.7% to 287,493 TEUs. Operational excellence “Imports are steadily climbing as we continue to work with industry partners to rebuild our market share,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero. “We are strengthening our competitiveness with our brand of operational excellence, customer service, and ongoing infrastructure investments that will keep cargo moving efficiently well into the future.” Safe and sustainable  “Our highly skilled workforce and terminal operators continue to raise the bar on growing cargo volumes safely and sustainably,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Bobby Olvera Jr. “Our collaboration with labor and industry makes us the Port of Choice.” The Port has moved 2,753,244 TEUs through the first four months of 2024, up 15.8% from the same period in 2023.