Exports moving across the Port of Virginia in September helped drive the port’s third consecutive month of total TEU volume exceeding 200,000 units.  In September, the port handled 201,113 TEUs, an increase of 8.6 percent or 15,928 TEUs when compared with September 2013. Exports grew by 12 percent, or 12,080 TEUs. In a year-to-date comparison (Jan. – Sept. 2014 vs. Jan. – Sept. 2013) the port is tracking 7.1 percent ahead of the same period last year: 1,759,894 TEUs vs. 1,642,927 TEUs.  The port’s operating income in September was $102,827. The extended (weekend) truck gates offered to better manage peak-season volume and the timing of volume incentives in current contracts reduced per-box revenue and had an effect on the month’s operating income, said John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority.  “The heavy volumes and profitability continue, but our delivery of service to the motor carriers is not acceptable,” Reinhart said. “We are pushing our capacity limits at both Virginia International Gateway (VIG) and Norfolk International Terminals (NIT). We’re already working vessels at Portsmouth Marine Terminal  (PMT) and that move is designed to provide a measure of relief to VIG and NIT, but our truck gates and service time remain an immediate area of focus.”  In September, truck volume increased by 21.9 percent. The port moved 76,782 containers by truck in September, which is 13,359 more than what was handled last September. “As a result, we’re experiencing congestion at our truck gates and increased turn-times and this is putting a service burden on our motor carriers,” Reinhart said.  Operating income for the first quarter of fiscal 2015 was $4,305,025, compared with an operating loss of $3,401,678 for the same quarter in fiscal 2014.  In some areas efficiency continues to improve. On Columbus Day (Oct. 13), the rail operation at NIT processed 1,173 containers, a new single-day record for that terminal. “On rail we are hitting our tempo, or consistency, and now we need to achieve that at the truck gates,” Reinhart said.  In a year-to-date comparison, rail volume is up 4.4 percent; VIP up 17.4 percent; barge containers up 8.2 percent; truck containers up 8.6 percent; ship calls up 3 percent; and vehicle units up 6.4 percent.  The port has exceeded the 200,000-TEU mark in April, May, July, August and September.  In September, the port worked 167 vessels (container, breakbulk and Ro-Ro).  The port has generated an operating profit in the first three months of fiscal 2015 and in six of the last seven months in calendar 2014.