Despite the frustrations of truckers, cargo counts appear to be booming at the Port of Virginia.The Virginia Port Authority, which operates terminals in Portsmouth, Newport News and Norfolk, recently reported that 210,177 standard 20-foot containers, or TEUs, moved through the port last month. That’s a 4.4 percent increase from 201,390 container units posted in April 2014.
“We continue to show growth in the primary areas of our operation,” Virginia Port Authority CEO and Executive Director John F. Reinhart said in a prepared statement. “In April, truck containers and ship calls were up compared with last year.”
The port will release its financial results for April at its May 19 Virginia Port Authority Board of Commissioners meeting.Cargo moved by rail and trucks mirrored April’s numbers.
Of the 210,000 containers posted at the port last month, 42,940 were moved by rail. That’s a 9.4 percent increase over 39,264 containers moved by rail in April 2014. Containers moved by trucks increased 3.2 percent to 73,810 over 71,507 in April 2014, according to the report.Barge cargo declined. A total of 3,802 containers were moved by barge last month, down 7.4 percent from the 4,104 containers moved by barge during April 2014.
While highlighting the record volume, Reinhart admitted that more work is needed to accommodate trucks hauling cargo in and out of its terminals.Motor carriers have been complaining for months about turn times at Hampton Roads terminals – especially Norfolk International and the Virginia International Gateway, where some truck drivers have waited for hours to get into the terminals.
Reinhart said while motor carrier delivery is improving, there is still more work to do.”We have not achieved consistency at our gates,” Reinhart said. “Though we are not there, we continue to be focused on our stated goal of getting trucks in and out of the terminals in 60 minutes or less.”
