Empty Containers Pile Up, Hurting LA-LB Port Fluidity: HTA

· Logistics · United States

A growing backlog of empty containers at the Los Angeles-Long Beach port complex is hurting fluidity, according to the Harbor Trucking Association, though marine terminals say the situation is being managed capably. Empties that are not being shipped back to Asia are accumulating at the US' busiest gateway, adding to congestion and drayage pressures there. The buildup follows elevated import volumes that have strained drayage capacity at US container gateways in recent months.

Why it matters：Empty-container backlogs are a recurring bottleneck that slows drayage, raises costs and can cascade into wider port congestion; how LA-LB manages it signals resilience at the US' main import gateway.

Key points

  • Empties not being shipped back to Asia are accumulating at the LA-LB complex
  • Harbor Trucking Association says this is hurting port fluidity
  • Marine terminals say the situation is being managed capably

Sources (original reporting)

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