Efficiency helps Port of Virginia handle increased traffic

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — When the container ship Dali slammed into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge last month, there was a ripple effect to other ports, including the Port of Virginia.

Previously: Cargo ship in Baltimore’s Key Bridge collapse had been in Portsmouth over weekend

This month, the port will get 18,000 to 20,000 containers of diverted cargo from Baltimore.

“That is a lot, and we’re up to it. We are up the task here,” said George Berry, a trucking advocate who operates “For Truckers by Truckers.”

He said his main concern fallout from Baltimore is more transparency.

“I want to know how much room do we still have left in Virginia International Gateway,” Berry said. “How much freight can we actually still take on? That is a crucial question that no one’s asking.”

As 10 On Your Side has reported, trucks are backing up, many waiting for the appointment to drop off or pick up containers.

To accommodate, the port has expanded hours of operation for the Virginia International Gateway port and Pinners Point, where containers are stored.

The operating hours expanded to start at 3 a.m. Monday through Friday. Previously, it was 6 a.m.

VIG previously wasn’t even operating Saturday, but it is now beginning at 7 a.m.

“That’s a lot of strain on the Port of Virginia,” Berry said, “so it’s very important that they have enough staffing, that their hours increase, and that we are able to get this cargo from the dock to the warehouse.”

Berry estimates that there are 3,000 truckers in the area, but now he thinks there could be 2,000 new truckers coming to the area.

Peter Palmer of Baltimore is one of those truck drivers. He drives 4½ hours to get here and says his life has changed.

“Well, it has changed because I have to come all the way down here from Baltimore,” Palmer said. “The biggest issue the traffic. It’s a lot of traffic. Our job is very time-consuming. As truck drivers, we’ll waste a lot of time on the road waiting and waiting and waiting. I would be waiting to pick up or drop off here, and you’re out at five or six in the morning. I’m then out of the port by 6:15 a.m. It can’t get no better than that. So, I really like it here at VIG.”

Before he came to the Virginia International Gateway port, Palmer knew nothing about port reservations.

“Well, this port is pretty good,” Palmer said. “Reservations work. The area is pretty good. … So here you come, you have your appointment time. So, if you have something to do, you can do it and then come at your appointment time.”

Palmer compared Baltimore to Portsmouth.

“Portsmouth much more efficient,” Palmer said. “It is more efficient than Baltimore. … You come for your appointments. When you are in Baltimore, the wait time is ridiculous.”

Now, get this, Palmer talked about wasted time and money.

“You could make more out of the day,” Palmer said. “Instead, I have to wait all this time because you waste most of your time sitting in Baltimore and New Jersey, but you come out here to make money and not waste time.”

Palmer said he would rather drive 4½ hours here than go to the Baltimore port around the corner.

“Because the time it takes to come down here, I would be sitting in the port in Baltimore trying to get a load in or a load out,” Palmer said. “So, I do not mind coming down here. In Baltimore, no reservations, not organized, not efficient.”

He wonders why other ports do not have the reservation system.

“And I do not know why Baltimore does not get the program they have here,” Palmer said, “because this is the best way to better my life. I don’t mind coming here every day if I have to.”

Palmer, asked whether the Port of Virginia should share its best practices with other ports, said yes.

“They should talk about how to run a port,” Palmer said, “because this is the only port I go to where it looks like they really have some sense of knowing what they are doing.”

Berry heard this conversation, and he said it hits home.

“That is validation right there that we do have the best port on the East Coast and the world,” Berry said. “It is about efficiency. That is what we care about in the motor carrier community.”

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