Posted on 10/19/2021 2:15:23 PM PDT by MNJohnnie
The United States’ largest container port now has a record backlog of ships and containers, according to Gene Seroka, the executive director of the Port of Los Angeles.
“We have about two weeks’ worth of work sitting at anchor right now,” Seroka told CNN, adding that port workers are currently trying to prioritize the cargo that needs to move from the port as soon as possible.
Some 200,000 shipping containers remain on ships off the coast, he added.
“There’s product that needs to get out there in super-fast speed,” he said. “Think about the toys, the other Christmas product, and parts and components for factories.”
His comment comes just days after President Joe Biden announced that the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have committed to 24/7 shifts to alleviate supply chain bottlenecks ahead of the Christmas shopping season. The White House also said it secured agreements with UPS, Walmart, and FedEx to increase the number of shifts.
“We had 25 percent of all cargo on our dock sitting here for 13 days or longer [and] that’s been cut in just about half over the last week,” Seroka said.
Phillip Sanfield, director of media relations for the port, noted that although the Port of Los Angeles now operates on a 24/7 schedule, its terminals remain closed between 3 a.m. and 8 a.m. The terminals are privately owned and operated.
“Currently there seems to be no cargo owners who are looking to use the 3 am. to 8 a.m. window,” he told CNN. “Terminals don’t want to be open if there is no interest in using the gates. We’re not yet seeing demand by cargo owners to come get their cargo during the overnight hours.”
“The Port of LA is ready now. We have plenty of longshore workers. The issue is truckers and more importantly, cargo to be picked up,” he added. “We’re working with importers, terminals, etc. to get a demand for that window. There’s no one single lever to pull.”
Meanwhile, Danielle Inman, a spokesperson for the National Retail Foundation, told Politifact that Assembly Bill 5—which critics have said triggered a wave of owner-operator truckers and trucking fleets to stop doing business in California—may be part of the issue why there’s a shipping backlog at the ports. However, she stressed it’s not the only reason.
“The overwhelming increase in volume, lack of available equipment such as chassis, empty container return policies, lack of available warehouse space are all contributing to the ongoing congestion issues at the ports,” Inman told the website.
Ever notice how these spokespeople always make excuses instead of telling the brutal truth? Bad polices imposed by Democrats created this. The other "causes" she lists are outcomes produced by the artificial constrictions placed on the CA trucking market by the CA Democrat controlled state government
There won’t be any New Truckers going to the Ports, EVER!! That ship has already sailed with the new Clean Burn and Particulate Filtration mandated by CARB.
NOBODY IS COMING!!!
So are Mexican trucks still allowed to operate in Kalifornia?
Christmas shopping...such first world problems.
Doubtful. California’s regulations pretty much eliminates all trucks older than maybe 2018?
This administration screws up everything they touch.
Maybe they should prioritze container ships dragging anchors breaking up pipelines that leaked 25,000 gallons of crude.
Not to worry though. As soon as Buttgig gets back from paid Daddy Duty - he will get right back to this transportation fiasco.
I guess DEF wasn’t a big enough f’up they had to go one better.
‘Bad polices imposed by Democrats created this. ‘
The Dems are so corrupt. Seems like their hatred for Trump made them more desperate.
What happened to the plans to bypass California and unload all the freight in Mexico and truck thru Texas? Too much theft?
There was a Twitter video posted on FR of trucks lined up, waiting to be loaded. The cranes were idle. Nothing was being off-loaded.
I was thinking that too. It isn’t really that simple, though. Retail needs Christmas sales to survive.
The idiot Psaki can keep reporting that although the ports are clogged, there are record sales going on. Isn’t that great? Real people know that sales are not measured in merchandise, but in the now inflated dollars of Biden’s America.
Meanwhile the Transportation Secretary remains oblivious to all the chaos at loading ports. Pete is at home in his pajamas, singing Barney Songs to his twins:
“I Love You, You Love Me....”
Since it’s impacting interstate commerce, a non-RINO prez could use this to neutralize CA’s draconian emmission laws.
The Biden Boat Parade is anchored out in the offshore waters of California.
You would think they would be moving around a circuit with “Let’s Go Brandon” banners.
Saw them as we flew into LGB on Friday. Sad but to be expected from a dreadfully corrupt state government.
Psaki: Backlog at US ports because more goods are being ordered. “People have more money and the wages are up.”
https://rumble.com/vny8ub-psaki-backlog-at-us-ports-because-more-goods-are-being-ordered.html
Trump would have fixed this 8 months ago.
Butt-man needs to visit the west coast to inspect the harbors.
If he breast-feeds the cranes that should get them moving again!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.