Cargo volumes rebounded March resulting in an all-time record for the number of twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) handled in a month at The Port of Virginia. “In March we handled 229,000 TEUs, which averages to 7,400 TEUS each day and that is a significant amount of volume on a day-in, day-out basis,” said John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. “We were 16 percent ahead (31,500 TEUs) of the same month last year. “That amount of volume, some of which was carried over from February, presented a challenge to our team at every phase of the operation and it was most acute at Virginia International Gateway, where our operational consistency was overtaken by sheer TEU volume: our delivery of service at the VIG gate for the first three weeks of March was unacceptable.” The record volume forced the port’s operations team to take a series of immediate measures to address the volume and restore operational tempo. The interim remedies included steps to reduce density in the stacks, a temporary embargo on empty containers arriving by rail, the addition of more cargo handling equipment and extended operating hours at the gates and did help to alleviate the congestion, Reinhart said. In March the port’s total for truck moves was up 17 percent; rail containers, up 17 percent; Virginia Inland Port volume, up 3 percent; barge containers, down 6 percent; and vehicle units, up 148 percent. Thus far into the calendar year, the port’s TEU volume is up 10 percent compared with the same period last year. “Our truck volumes did not let up any in March; we processed more than 81,400 truck moves despite the challenges,” Reinhart said. “We understand the hardship this period put on our motor carriers and customers and we are grateful for their patience through what has been a very difficult period. The port will release its financial results for March during the week of April 13.