Serving the NY / NJ port terminals

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Port Resources

NY/NJ terminal directory & drayage reference.

Appointment systems, gate hours, and plain-English answers to the port questions brokers and drivers ask most.

Heads up: Every truck entering the NY/NJ container terminals needs a PortTruckPass (PTP) account, and several terminals now book appointments through it. Individual terminals also run their own portals, linked below.

Terminal Directory

The six NY/NJ container terminals.

Official websites, appointment systems, and typical gate hours. Hours and booking systems change often, so always confirm with the terminal before you dispatch.

Maher Terminals Elizabeth, NJ

1210 Corbin St, Elizabeth, NJ

Gate: Mon-Fri 6:00 AM - 7:00 PM. Empties to 6:00 PM, hazmat to 4:00 PM.

Know the Terms

Port terms, in plain English.

The questions brokers and new drivers ask most often, answered without the jargon.

Last Free Day (LFD)

The Last Free Day is the final day your loaded container can sit at the terminal, after it becomes available, without racking up storage charges. Every container gets a set amount of free time once it is discharged and cleared. Pick it up on or before the LFD and you pay nothing extra. Miss it and demurrage starts adding up for every day it stays, so check the LFD in the terminal portal early.

Demurrage vs. Per Diem

These are two different late fees people often mix up. Demurrage is charged by the terminal or ocean carrier when your loaded container sits at the port past its free time, basically rent for taking up space on the dock. Per diem (also called detention) is the daily charge for holding the carrier's container and equipment too long after you pull it out. Demurrage is the clock running inside the terminal; per diem is the clock running once the box is on the street.

Chassis & Chassis Pools

A chassis is the wheeled steel frame a container sits on so a truck can haul it, since the container has no wheels of its own. Most drivers rent chassis from providers like TRAC Intermodal, DCLI, FlexiVan, or the carrier-owned NACPC cooperative. These "pools" are shared fleets you pick up and drop off at terminals and depots, paying a daily rate. Availability and rules vary by terminal, so know which pool serves your box before you dispatch.

TWIC Card

The Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) is a federal ID card from the TSA that every driver needs to enter the secure areas of port terminals. Getting one means passing a TSA background check, and the card is valid for five years. No valid TWIC means no entry at the gate, so apply or renew well ahead of time. TSA suggests starting at least 60 days out, through the official TSA/IDEMIA site only.

Useful Links

Port & drayage resources.

Container tracking

Shipping line tracking

Terminal news & advisories

Reaching a terminal directly

Sometimes you have to contact a terminal's customer service yourself. These are the customer-service inboxes published on each terminal's own site.

These links point to third-party terminal and industry sites. Hours, appointment systems, and rules change often. Always confirm details directly with the terminal before dispatching. Container tariffs are the authority on any actual fees.

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