Applicability of the Technologies of Intelligent Transportation Systems
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Technical Report Doeumentatlon Paee 1. Report No. .f 2. Govenunent Accession No. 3. Recipient's Catalog No. SWUTC/951721912-2 4. Title and Subtitle S. Report Date Applicability of the Technologies ofIntelligent Transportation Systems February 1995 in Commercial Vehicle Operations at the Port of Houston's Intermodal 6. Perfonning Organization Code Marine Container Terminal with Case Studies of Existing Systems 7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Report No. Richard B. Easley and C. Michael Walton 9. Perfonning Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. (TRAlS) Center for Transportation Research The University of Texas at Austin 11. Contract or Grant No. 3208 Red River, Suite 200 DTOS88-G-0006 Austin, Texas 78705-2650 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period Covered Southwest Region University Transportation Center Texas Transportation Institute The Texas A&M University System 14. Sponsoring Agency Code College Station, Texas 77843-3135 15. Supplementary Notes Supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program. 16. Abstract The scope of the research includes identifying problems with the Barbours Cut Container Tenninal gate operations problems and developing a viable solution to remedy those problems. The study will consist of a detailed analysis of Barbours Cut's gate operations and will introduce various alternatives with the objective of reducing truck in-tenninal dwell times (sometimes called 'truck tum times'). Included among the alternatives are advanced technologies in the areas of electronics, computers, and communications. These advanced technologies applied toward improving transportation are collectively called Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technology. (This was formerly knows as Intelligent Vehicle Highway System - or IVHS - technology.) These alternatives will increase the terminal's productivity by increasing efficiency, including an increase in the productivity levels of more than one hundred trucking firms serving Barbours Cut Container Tenninal, and they will maintain local compliance with the Clean Air Amendment Act (CAAA) of 1990. In addition to increasing the productivity, these alternatives will provide a safer terminal environment by reducing congestion. 17. KeyWords 18. Distribution Statement Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), No Restrictions. This document is available to the public through Commercial Vehicle Operations, Tenninal, Port, NTIS: National Technica1lnforrnation Service Container, Truck, Intermodal 5285 Port Royal Road Springfield, Virginia 22161 19. Security Classif.(of this report) 20. Security Classif.(ofthis page) 21. No. ofPages I 22. Price Unclassified 1 Unclassified 179 Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized APPLICABILITY OF THE TECHNOLOGIES OF INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS IN COMMERCIAL VEHICLE OPERATIONS AT THE PORT OF HOUSTON'S INTERMODAL MARINE CONTAINER TERMINAL WITH CASE STUDIES OF EXISTING SYSTEMS by Richard B. Easley and C. Michael Walton Research Report SWUTC/95/721912-2 Southwest Region University Transportation Center Center for Transportation Research The University of Texas Austin, Texas 78712 FEBRUARY 1995 DISCLAIMER The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the information presented herein. This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program, in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for the contents or use thereof. ACKNOWLEDGMENT Support for this report was provided by a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program to the Southwest Region University Transportation Center. ii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This research investigated and analyzed certain operating procedures at the Barbours Cut Container Terminal at the Port of Houston. In-depth study was made of the delays associated with these operating procedures as they relate to trucking operations. The first step taken in the research was the development and administration of a survey of the truck operators. The area that caused the most trouble for the truck operators was the gate operations. Thus it was chosen as the area to be studied in greater depth. In addition to surveying the truck operators at Barbours Cut Container Terminal, the tasks undertaken included (1) gathering background information from other ports and terminals around the country, (2) interviewing Barbours Cut personnel, (3) collecting gate processing data, and (4) providing recommendations for improving gate operations. The proposed solution takes advantage of the existing Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technologies that have been implemented at other ports around the country. The solution was designed to address the primary problems. iii iv ABSTRACT The scope of the research includes identifying problems with the Barbours Cut Container Terminal gate operations problems and developing a viable solution to remedy those problems. The study will consist of a detailed analysis of Barbours Cut's gate operations and will introduce various alternatives with the objective of reducing truck in-terminal dwell times (sometimes called 'truck turn times'). Included among the alternatives are advanced technologies in the areas of electronics, computers, and communications. These advanced technologies applied toward improving transportation are collectively called Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technology. (This was formerly known as Intelligent Vehicle Highway System-or IVHS technology.) These alternatives will increase the terminal's productivity by increasing efficiency, including an increase in the productivity levels of the more than one hundred trucking firms se'Ying Barbours Cut Container Terminal, and they will maintain local compliance with the Clean Air Amendment Act (CAAA) of 1990. In addition to increasing the productivity, these alternatives will provide a safer terminal environment by reducing congestion. v vi TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................ 1 Problem Statement. ............................................................................................. 1 Objective of Research ......................................................................................... 1 Research Scope ................................................................................................. 2 Port of Houston Survey ........................................................................... 2 Nationwide Study ................................................................................... 2 Research Methodology .......................................................................................3 Organization ....................................................................................................... 3 CHAPTER 2. LITERATURE AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION RESEARCH .......................................................................................5 Gate Transaction Research ................................................................................. 5 Container History ................................................................................................ 5 Container Impact on U.S. Trade ........................................................................... 6 Port and Terminal Typology ................................................................................. 7 Types of Ports ........................................................................................ 7 Types of Terminals .................................................................................. 8 Labor Relations ................................................................................................ 10 CHAPTER 3. STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES .................................. 15 Basic Gate Movements ...................................................................................... 15 Basic Import and Export Paperwork Process ....................................................... 1 6 To Return a Chassis to Terminal ............................................................. 1 6 Specific Gate Transactions ................................................................................ 16 Bobtail or Chassis In .............................................................................. 16 Empty or Loaded Conainer In ................................................................ 21 CHAPTER 4. SURVEYS TAKEN & PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED AT SELECTED MARINE CONTAINER TERMINALS/PORTS .............................. 23 Nationwide Survey ............................................................................................ 23 Survey Participants ............................................................................... 23 vii Type of Survey .................................................................................... 23 Problems/Opportunities Identified ......................................................... 24 Internal Problems and Opportunities .......................................... 24 External Problems and Opportunities ......................................... 26 Barbours Cut Container Terminal Survey ............................................................ 29 Survey History ....................................................................................