Stockton-based Antonini Enterprises is providing the containers, chassis, storage space and in some cases the marketing that is helping the Port of Stockton increase its short sea shipping capacity. The Stockton-Oakland short sea shipping service charges shippers 20% less than the cost of trucking along the 580 freeway between the California ports of Stockton and Oakland, according to the Port of Stockton. Antonini is “Key” Mark Tollini, deputy director for the Port of Stockton, says the partnership with Antonini Enterprises has been “a key to our success.” In November, Tollini told AJOT that the Marine Highway service was making gradual progress from shipping 60 revenue bearing containers per week in July to 120-revenue bearing containers per week in November (see AJOT November ????,2013). At the end of January, Tollini reported that the tug/barge service between the two California ports carried 900 containers for the month of January. This is an average of 225-containers per week, substantially more than the service was carrying last summer when it first began. The service has faced an attitudinal problem with ocean carriers, shippers and truckers because it adds an additional step and uncertainty to the process of freight delivery that is only gradually being overcome. The Antonini connection allows shippers and carriers to work with an established trucking company that talks their language and allows for the availability of equipment and the pick up and delivery of freight. By outsourcing this function, the Port focuses on the tug/barge service and leaves the trucking connection to and from the Port to a trucking company with a long history serving the Stockton area distribution community. Another problem for shippers is that the service operates on a weekly basis. Driving containers to Oakland just before the ship arrives is no longer feasible if the lower cost rate is to be realized. This requires a much more rigorous scheduling regime on the part of importers and exporters who have to work harder to obtain their 20% savings on shipments. This means that ‘just in time’ or ‘just at the last moment’ approaches to logistics will not work with the waterborne service. Tollini says that the leadership of trucking executive Joe Antonini plays a ‘key’ role in placing logistical needs under one roof. He says Antoninin provides “a one stop shop for shippers and carriers (for) pick-ups and deliveries and having a supply of chassis and containers available for customer needs. And, Antonini offers affordable drayage pricing” to transport containers. Tollini says the congestion and shortage of trucking at the Port of Oakland continues to result in delays for shippers and carriers and is helping to make the short sea service attractive. At the Port of Oakland, Tollini says, drivers and shippers are experiencing growing frustration with congestion and delays. This is encouraging more shippers to save on costs and avoid delays at Oakland by delivering their containers to Stockton. Stockton is located much closer to major distribution centers located in the San Joaquin Valley. Antonini Enterprises LLC is part of a group of companies dedicated to serving California’s agricultural and general commodity transportation business and has been in operation since 1926. Each year the trucking companies, Antonini Freight Express, Inc. and Antonini Fruit Express haul more than 110,000 truckloads of agricultural products and general commodities such as canned goods, empty cans, bulk wine, corrugated fiber, steel products, tomatoes, peaches, nuts, grains and building materials. These companies operate out of five terminals spanning the San Joaquin Valley in Northern California. Production Issues Tollini says productivity problems continue to slow the stevedoring operation and undermine the service’s cost competitiveness. A typical production rate per container to load and unload the barge for each of the two European-built Liebherr Mobile Harbor cranes being used at the Port should be around 20-25 moves per hour. However, the Stockton stevedoring operation is doing well below this, Tollini says, and needs to do better. Brian Spain, Port Equipment representative for Liebherr, agrees with Tollini. He says the purchase of new equipment including an anti-sway mechanism for each of the cranes will increase the number of containers loaded and unloaded per hour. Economic Impact Tollini told AJOT that the Marine Highway 580 service’s economic impact will be to generate $5.5 million in wages, benefits and new longshore jobs in the Stockton area in the first year of operation. He believes an equal amount will be generated in additional wages, benefits and longshore jobs in Oakland. Longshore workers make $110 an hour in wages and benefits, he said. Tollini says the service remains on track for breaking even by the summer of 2014.