Simply put, Dwell is the time that cargo containers, chassis equipment, or providers spend waiting along the transport.
“Vessel dwell time” is the time a ship spends at port securing the vessel, discharging or loading cargo, and other activities.
“Terminal dwell time” refers to the time either a loaded or empty equipment spends in a terminal awaiting movement toward its next destination.
“Street dwell time” is defined as the time during which loaded or empty containers and chassis spend once gated out of the terminal – like those pulled out of the terminal to avoid demurrage.
For reference, in September, the average terminal dwell time for 40ft chassis at Los Angeles-Long Beach port was over 4 days. More recently, this wait time dropped to just under 3 days as supply chain partners worked to improve efficiency.
Street dwells for 40ft chassis, however, are still as high as they were in September, averaging up to 7 days. When street dwell time exceeds 4 days on average, availability of chassis worsens, which then can negatively affect overall marine terminal productivity.
You can find these terms in Green’s latest West Coast Trans-Pacific Market update.
