IANA task force to address improving truck turn times

Through a newly formed task force, the Intermodal Association of North America is looking to help move trucks more swiftly in and out of port and intermodal terminals. At its May 6-7 Intermodal Operations and Maintenance Business Meeting in Oak Brook, Ill., IANA launched formation of the task force after a roundtable discussion identified concerns related to undue waiting for truckers to pick up containers from terminals. “This is a very, very, very urgent problem,” said Larry Gross, senior consultant with the FTR transportation intelligence firm, who moderated the roundtable session, during which participants concurred that delays are more severe at marine terminals than inland facilities. Gross added that the matter merits recognition and action.

Gross suggested that an IANA task force, inclusive of a full spectrum of stakeholders, could play a role in development of measurement criteria for truck turn times – both inside and outside terminal gates – and in identifying unified industry solutions and technology standards. IANA’s Operations Committee later unanimously approved formation of such a task force, with a to-be-determined neutral third party to collect data and report findings. Also at the meeting, Patrick Casey, vice president of fleet management at leading railcar provider TTX Co., expressed optimism for the intermodal industry.

During a state-of-the-industry presentation, Casey said he projects year-over-year gains of between 6 percent and 8 percent for handlings of domestic containers to spur a total North American intermodal volume increase of between 4 percent and 6 percent in 2015 compared with 2014. As railroads continue their commitment to intermodal growth, rail service can be anticipated to improve, Casey said, adding that long-term challenges are posed by issues including the stress ultra-large containerships of ocean carrier mega-alliances place upon terminals, still-evolving chassis management practices and the declining supply of truck drivers. Also speaking to the gathering of about 400 intermodal industry leaders was Jack Van Steenburg, assistant administrator and chief safety officer of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, who defended the agency’s controversial Compliance, Safety, Accountability program. Van Steenburg said he disagrees with a recent U.S. Government Accountability Office report that questions that reliability of CSA’s safety measurement system as a valid predictor of future truck crashes. He characterized the GAO’s stance as “wrong,” commenting that he believes “CSA works” in identifying high-risk motor carriers before fatalities occur.

Van Steenburg emphasized the importance of those hiring their services to know the safety records of trucking firms and the people they put behind the wheel. “Know your carriers; know your drivers,” Van Steenburg said.