Improved productivity, cost savings, and environmentally smart. Those are just a few benefits of new state-of-the-art gate technology available at several container terminals in the Port of New York and New Jersey.
As the third largest port in the U.S., handling about 3.8 million containers per year, predominately to a local market, the efficiency and productivity of drayage truck operations are critical to the port. Each of the port’s major container terminals (APM Terminals, GCT Bayonne, GCT New York, Maher Terminal, Port Newark Container Terminal and Red Hook Container Terminal) is using or installing innovative technology at the inbound and outbound gate complexes to help increase efficiency, customer service, safety, security and accountability for both the cargo and equipment.
As trucks enter and depart the terminal, the OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology reads and records identifying information on the truck license plate, container number and chassis number. At the same time, Weigh In Motion (WIM) scales are recording the weight of the container and Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras are capturing the identification of the driver and noting any damage or anomalies with the container. Meanwhile the truck’s Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag is read to ensure that the truck is authorized to enter the terminal and subsequently within the terminal to assist in expediting the truck processing. Completed in a nanosecond, precious time is saved and the entry and exit process for the truck driver is streamlined all while helping to reduce their overall turn time.
Before a truck arrives at the terminals, they and the shippers they are hauling for, have access to another innovative technology that also streamlines the operation and helps plan their day. Through a first of its kind in the US, port community system, known as Port Truck Pass (PTP), truckers and their customers can determine the status of their container or booking across all six container terminals in a single web portal (Terminal Information Portal System or TIPS). Additional information on vessel schedules and empty container return locations can also be found there. Initially launched three years ago, upgrades are underway and we look forward to announcing even more features that increase visibility, planning and efficiency. PTP was created and is owned and operated by an unprecedented consortium of the Port of New York & New Jersey’s container terminal operators (Sustainable Terminal Services) in partnership with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Another important module of PTP is the Truck Management System (TMS) also known as the appointment or reservations system. NY/NJ’s Global Container Terminal – Bayonne was the first terminal on the East Coast to employ a Truck Reservation System (TRS). Other terminals are expected to implement reservations systems in the future. The TRS earned the 2017 “Outstanding Project” award from the Intelligent Transportation Society of New Jersey and has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for reducing turn times, costs, emissions and congestion. The Port of New York and New Jersey is committed to the investments, improvements and innovation necessary to speed the flow of commerce to deliver your goods reliably and efficiently.
