A Pier Pass Fee, also known as a Traffic Mitigation Fee, is a per-container charge used at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to support extended terminal gate hours and reduce daytime port congestion. The fee helps fund night and weekend operations so cargo can move outside peak traffic periods. For importers and shippers, the Pier Pass Fee may appear as a separate logistics cost when containers move through these Southern California ports.
The Pier Pass fee is a traffic mitigation charge at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach that encourages container pickups and returns during off-peak nighttime and weekend hours. Containers moved during on-peak daytime hours pay the fee; off-peak moves are exempt.
- On-peak hours: weekdays 3 AM to 6 PM
- Off-peak hours: weekdays 6 PM to 3 AM and all day weekends
- Fee applies per move (inbound or outbound) during peak hours
- Importers who can schedule off-peak drayage avoid the fee entirely
The Pier Pass fee is managed by PierPASS, Inc. and is subject to periodic rate adjustments. Check current rates and peak/off-peak hours with your drayage provider.
For related logistics context, see Dedola’s ocean freight shipping services and glossary entries on Alameda Corridor Surcharge (ACS), Clean Truck Fee, Drayage, and FCL.
