What to Know – Shipping through the Port of Long Beach

The Port of Long Beach, founded in 1911, is one of the busiest container seaports in the United States, and the second busiest in North America after the Port of Los Angeles. It is in the city of Long Beach, California, and occupies 3,200 acres of land with 25 miles of waterfront. It has 10 piers with 80 berths.

The Port of Long Beach handles trade valued at $170 billion annually and supports 2.6 million jobs across the nation, more than 575,000 in Southern California, and more than 50,000 jobs – or 1 in 5 – in Long Beach. It is a major gateway for US–Asian trade and serves 175 shipping lines with connections to 217 seaports around the world! This port handled more than 9.1 million container units in 2022!

The Port of Long Beach is committed to environmental stewardship and sustainability. It has been recognized for its efforts to reduce emissions, improve air quality, and protect marine life. In 2022, the Port achieved its goal of becoming carbon neutral for all port-related activities.

Drayage is the transportation of a shipping container by truck to its final destination. Drayage is often part of a longer overall move, such as from a ship to a warehouse. There are over 500 drayage providers that service the Port of Long Beach. These providers offer a variety of services, including: The drayage providers compete for business from shippers and consignees. They are typically paid for by the container, and their rates vary depending on several factors, including the distance to be traveled, the type of container, and the time of day.

The Port of Long Beach has programs in place to help drayage providers improve their efficiency and reduce their emissions. These programs include:

• The Clean Truck Program, which requires drayage trucks to meet certain emission standards.
• The Drayage Truck Productivity Program, which provides financial incentives to drayage providers that improve their efficiency.
• The Drayage Truck Electrification Pilot Program, which is testing the use of electric drayage trucks.

Here are the steps on how to ship containers through the Port of Long Beach:

1. Choose a shipping line. There are many shipping lines that service the Port of Long Beach. You will need to choose a shipping line that can meet your specific needs, such as the type of cargo you are shipping, the desired delivery time, and the budget.
2. Book your container. Once you have chosen a shipping line, you will need to book your container. This will involve providing the shipping line with information about your cargo, such as the weight, dimensions, and the type of container you need.
3. Get your cargo ready for shipping. Once you have booked your container, you will need to get your cargo ready for shipping. This will involve packing your cargo and labeling it according to the shipping regulations.
4. Deliver your cargo to the port. Once your cargo is ready for shipping, you will need to deliver it to the port. The port will have specific requirements for how and where you can deliver your cargo.
5. Clear customs. Once your cargo arrives at the port, it will need to be cleared through customs. This process can take several days, so it is important to factor this into your shipping schedule.
6. Pick up your container. Once your cargo has been cleared through customs, you will need to pick up your container. You can either do this yourself or hire a drayage company to do it for you.
7. Deliver your cargo to its destination. Once you have picked up your container, you will need to deliver it to its destination. This can be done by truck, rail, or ship.

Here are some additional tips for shipping containers through the Port of Long Beach:

• Start planning your shipment early. The Port of Long Beach is a busy port, and it can take several weeks to book a container and get your cargo ready for shipping.
• Be aware of the shipping regulations. The Port of Long Beach has specific regulations for shipping cargo. Make sure you are familiar with these regulations before you ship your cargo.
• Get quotes from multiple shipping lines. Shipping rates can vary depending on the shipping line, so it is important to get quotes from multiple shipping lines before you book your container.
• Be prepared to pay for drayage. Drayage is the cost of moving containers from the port to your warehouse or distribution center. This cost is typically paid by the shipper or consignee.

Portage Logistics is a third-party logistics (3PL) company that can help shippers and receivers as a one-stop shop, taking containers from pick up to final destination. This will save shippers and receivers time, money, and headaches.

Portage’s expertise and services offered at the Port of Long Beach include container booking, cargo consolidation, warehousing, drayage, customs clearance, documentation, tracking, consolidated billing, and more.