PierPASS survey cites benefits of OffPeak for port drivers

The Trucker News Services

2/7/2007

LONG BEACH, Calif. (Feb. 6, 2007) — PierPASS Inc. today released the finding of its third opinion survey conducted with truck drivers servicing the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Highlighted in the poll results are an increased number of trips truckers make per shift, continued acknowledgement of traffic reduction at the ports and the recognized benefit of a flexible work schedule due to the OffPeak program. A growing number of the truckers also report higher earnings since the OffPeak program was initiated in July 2005, continuing a trend noted in a benchmark survey conducted in May of last year.

Compiled and verified for PierPASS by the Santa Monica-based opinion research firm Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin & Associates (FMM&A), the poll was conducted between November 27 and December 9 among a pool of 451 drivers serving all container terminals of the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach.

The OffPeak program is a traffic mitigation initiative managed by PierPASS. Since July 2005, OffPeak has enabled weeknight and Saturday shifts at marine terminal gates, easing congestion on roads and in terminals during peak daytime hours.

“The news here is that OffPeak continues to impress, with drivers reporting higher earnings and more trips per shift,” says FMM&A partner Richard Maullin. “In addition, new questions added since the May 2006 survey provided solid data on why the later hours of OffPeak shifts are being underutilized, with a full one quarter of drivers citing lack of customer demand.”

Among truckers aware of the OffPeak program, 61 percent rate OffPeak positively, a slight decrease from the May survey findings that remains within the poll’s statistical margin of error. Keeping pace with the May results, over two-thirds reported both reduced traffic congestion (67 percent) and more flexible work schedules (66 percent) since the program began. Drivers also confirmed making more delivery trips than reported in the previous survey, with 45 percent confirming an overall increase in trips, up slightly from May. More detailed information shows that 64 percent of all drivers are currently making three trips or more per shift, compared with 58 percent just six months ago. Highlighting this continuing positive cargo movement trend, more drivers reported higher earnings, a move from 34 to 37 percent since the May survey.

The polling data also confirmed that there is room for immediate growth of the program through underutilized OffPeak hours.

“We view trucker observations as an early-warning system for issues that deserve our attention,” says PierPASS President and CEO Bruce Wargo. “With a full one-quarter of truckers responding that not being sent by their company prevents them from using early morning gates during the week and late afternoon gates on Saturdays, we see an issue and an opportunity. If we can get cargo moving more aggressively during all our OffPeak hours, it will open up additional capacity at the ports and maximize the value of our program.”

PierPASS is a not-for-profit company created by marine terminal operators at the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports to address multi-terminal issues such as congestion, security and air quality.

— The Trucker News Services