Port confidence still wanes despite driver bonuses, new container fees

To get more freight moving out of the Port of Miami, East Florida Hauling began offering drivers bonuses of up to $1,000 a day to wait in long lines for hours on end.

For some, the extra money still isn’t enough to make up for the loss of bathroom breaks, decent meals and, most importantly, peace of mind.

“They just won’t go because of the line and while they’re waiting in line, they get desperate,” said East Florida Hauling controller Lissette Lesmes.

Leaders at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beah are hoping that a new container fee created for ocean carriers will help move freight out faster. Various industry leaders aren't so sure.Port of Los Angeles“There’s other drivers in the same situation,” Lesmes continued. “There’s been fights. There’s been threats and there’s been accidents too because waiting gets everyone desperate and so they end up in other troubles so some drivers will not go at all. They just refuse to go. Some others will go if you give them an incentive.”

East Florida Hauling’s efforts to move more freight at a time of unprecedented container congestion at America’s ports is yet another example of how private enterprise is attempting to keep products flowing into the hands of U.S. consumers who are gearing up to buy even more imported TVs, cell phones and laptops as the holidays roll into view.

[Related: LA ports symptom of larger supply chain problem]