1 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:10,880 Speaker 1: Hi everyone, this is Lee Clasgow when We're Talking Transports. 2 00:00:10,920 --> 00:00:14,760 Speaker 1: Welcome to Bloomberg Intelligence Talking Transports podcast. I'm your host, 3 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:19,760 Speaker 1: Lee Klaskow, senior Freight, transportation and logistics analysts at Bloomberg Intelligence, 4 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:22,880 Speaker 1: Bloomberg's in house research arm of almost five hundred analysts 5 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:26,360 Speaker 1: and strategists around the globe. Before diving in a little 6 00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 1: public service announcement, your support is instrumental to keep bringing 7 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:32,840 Speaker 1: great guests onto the podcast like the one we have today. 8 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:35,440 Speaker 1: We really do need your support, so please, if you 9 00:00:35,560 --> 00:00:38,600 Speaker 1: enjoyed this podcast, please share it, like it, and leave 10 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:41,240 Speaker 1: a comment. Also, if you have any ideas for future 11 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:44,040 Speaker 1: episodes or just want to talk transports, please hit me 12 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:47,159 Speaker 1: up on the Bloomberg terminal, on LinkedIn or on Twitter 13 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:51,240 Speaker 1: at logistics Lead. Now on to our episode, We're delighted 14 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:54,800 Speaker 1: to have Gene Soroka, Executive Director of the Port of 15 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:58,120 Speaker 1: Los Angeles, with us today. As executive director of the 16 00:00:58,120 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 1: busiest container port in North America, Gene is responsible for 17 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:05,800 Speaker 1: managing a two point six billion dollar budget, advancing major 18 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:11,199 Speaker 1: capital projects, growing trade volumes, and promoting innovative sustainable practices 19 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:14,880 Speaker 1: that strengthen the region's economy. Prior to joining the Port, 20 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:19,720 Speaker 1: Jane held several key positions both nationally and internationally in 21 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:23,560 Speaker 1: sales and marketing for American president Lines Limited or APL 22 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 1: healed a MBA and Bouchelors of Science and Marketing from 23 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:29,720 Speaker 1: the University of New Orleans. Gene, thanks so much for 24 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:32,640 Speaker 1: being with us today. Thanks Lee, appreciate you having me on. 25 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:37,640 Speaker 1: So the Port of Los Angeles, I know all about it. 26 00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:40,280 Speaker 1: Can you tell the listeners a little bit about the port. 27 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:45,120 Speaker 2: We're one hundred and seventeen years old this year, seventy 28 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:48,880 Speaker 2: five hundred acres of property, forty three miles of waterfront, 29 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 2: and the cargo that traverses our port reaches each and 30 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:56,480 Speaker 2: every one of our nations four hundred and thirty five 31 00:01:56,600 --> 00:01:58,040 Speaker 2: congressional districts. 32 00:01:58,360 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 1: A little bit. 33 00:01:58,880 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 2: Closer to home, fifteen working Angelinos today has a job 34 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:05,320 Speaker 2: related to the port, and it's one to nine in 35 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 2: the five counties Southern California region, meaning that about a 36 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 2: million of us go to work every day relying on 37 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:14,200 Speaker 2: the great efforts here at the Port of Los Angeles. 38 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:18,160 Speaker 1: So, you know, twenty twenty four was a pretty good 39 00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:20,520 Speaker 1: year for the port. I know, you know, time we're 40 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:24,119 Speaker 1: recording this it's late February, but can you just talk 41 00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:26,679 Speaker 1: about twenty twenty four before we get into this year. 42 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:30,119 Speaker 2: We closed out last year LEE with ten point three 43 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:33,480 Speaker 2: million container units going through the port. That was our 44 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:37,160 Speaker 2: second best year ever, and to me more importantly, we 45 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:41,320 Speaker 2: moved more cargo during the traditional summertime peak season than 46 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 2: we did at any other point, including those COVID years 47 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:49,160 Speaker 2: without one ship backed up. Truly a remarkable year. Also, 48 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:53,359 Speaker 2: in parallel with that high level of cargo volume, pollution 49 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:56,760 Speaker 2: from port activities is at the lowest it's been since 50 00:02:56,800 --> 00:02:59,280 Speaker 2: we began measuring almost twenty years ago. 51 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:03,240 Speaker 1: So in twenty twenty four, what was driving the volume 52 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 1: increases eight that you saw at the port. 53 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:10,120 Speaker 2: A number of factors, but led by a strong underlying 54 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:14,920 Speaker 2: US economy, the American consumer continued to purchase even beyond 55 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 2: some experts opinions. We also had a protracted labor negotiation 56 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 2: of dock workers on the East and Gulf Coast, drought 57 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:26,960 Speaker 2: conditions in the Panama Canal, and security concerns in the 58 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:30,639 Speaker 2: Red Sea that led to Suez Canal crossings dropping by 59 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:34,200 Speaker 2: some eighty percent. That pushed more and more cargo over 60 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:37,960 Speaker 2: the West Coast. Specifically, to Los Angeles and Long Beach. 61 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:40,680 Speaker 1: And can you talk a little bit about the share 62 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:44,960 Speaker 1: gains that maybe you benefited from because of those port negotiations, 63 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 1: you know, was it a significant amount of share? Is 64 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:51,880 Speaker 1: that share now like leaking back to those ports. 65 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:56,960 Speaker 2: We saw several percentage points of cargo share come our way, 66 00:03:57,280 --> 00:03:59,920 Speaker 2: but it's a fluid situation, as you well know, based 67 00:03:59,880 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 2: on those geopolitical issues, and even in more recent times, 68 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:09,640 Speaker 2: from the campaign trail last summer until inauguration, some importers 69 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:13,720 Speaker 2: started front loading inventory or advancing it ahead of what 70 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 2: they perceived to be a new terriff regime and trade 71 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 2: policy coming out of Washington. So a lot of factors, 72 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:22,760 Speaker 2: and while we gained a little bit of share for 73 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:26,440 Speaker 2: folks who wanted to balance out their risk on imports 74 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 2: and exports, what we see now is this week the 75 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:33,719 Speaker 2: International Longshore Association of dock Workers on the Eastern Gulf 76 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:37,080 Speaker 2: Coast will have their rank and file vote on a 77 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:42,240 Speaker 2: new six year agreement with the United States Maritime Exchange. 78 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:44,600 Speaker 2: When that agreement goes through, we'll see a little more 79 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:48,320 Speaker 2: balancing of cargo through major gateways, and I believe you'll 80 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:51,000 Speaker 2: see some of that cargo that came our way move 81 00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:54,320 Speaker 2: back to its natural flow over east and Gulf coastports. 82 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:59,039 Speaker 1: So you know, you kind of have a competitor right across. 83 00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:00,760 Speaker 1: Is it the Bay, I don't know, it's the Port 84 00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:03,080 Speaker 1: of Long Beach? Is that the bay? I guess you 85 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:03,760 Speaker 1: would say the bay. 86 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:07,320 Speaker 2: Yes, it's called the San Pedro Bay. And the ports 87 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:11,000 Speaker 2: in LA and Long Beach combined account for about forty 88 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:14,400 Speaker 2: percent of our nation's imports and roughly thirty percent of 89 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 2: our exports. Some call it coopetition. We work very closely 90 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:24,160 Speaker 2: on areas of infrastructure, environmental strategy with respect air and 91 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:27,880 Speaker 2: water quality as well as safety and security. And it's 92 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:30,720 Speaker 2: my view that Long Beach needs to be operating at 93 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:33,400 Speaker 2: top speed at the same time Los Angeles does to 94 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:36,440 Speaker 2: give the greatest benefit to the American economy. 95 00:05:36,640 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 1: Right And so you know, obviously geography a location, location, 96 00:05:39,720 --> 00:05:42,479 Speaker 1: location is a big decider on which port people use. 97 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:45,240 Speaker 1: You mentioned, you know, there are some things that can 98 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:49,799 Speaker 1: shift share earlier, whether it's potential for a port strike 99 00:05:49,839 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 1: with your competitors or you know, geopolitical issues. So when 100 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:57,719 Speaker 1: you're competing against other Western West Coast ports, whether it's 101 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:01,520 Speaker 1: the Port of Prince Rupert up in Canada or closer 102 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:04,479 Speaker 1: to home, the Port of Long Beach. How does LA's 103 00:06:04,760 --> 00:06:07,720 Speaker 1: Port of La stack. What are your competitive advantages versus 104 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:08,600 Speaker 1: those other ports? 105 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:14,240 Speaker 2: Well, we cater to three major segments of cargo here 106 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:18,120 Speaker 2: at the Southern California's San Pedro Bay Ports. One is 107 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:21,599 Speaker 2: the twenty million of us that live in Southern California 108 00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:26,479 Speaker 2: consuming and bringing things to market, whether it be produce 109 00:06:26,839 --> 00:06:30,560 Speaker 2: or manufactured goods. The second segment is about fifty to 110 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:33,880 Speaker 2: sixty miles away from our ports, the inland empire of 111 00:06:33,920 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 2: Southern California, where we have approximately two billion square feet 112 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:44,680 Speaker 2: of warehousing under roof, and think of this as storage facilities, crosstocks, 113 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 2: the ability to get cargo out on deconsolidation to the 114 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:53,599 Speaker 2: interior of the country, and fulfillment centers for all of 115 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:57,039 Speaker 2: those now that buy online here in the United States. 116 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:01,279 Speaker 2: The third segment is that intact ocean box that starts 117 00:07:01,279 --> 00:07:06,000 Speaker 2: in Asia and goes to Chicago, Memphis, Dallas among fifteen 118 00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:10,680 Speaker 2: different major distribution centers in the country. So number one 119 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:13,600 Speaker 2: on our list, as you rightly says geography, we're open 120 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:16,960 Speaker 2: seven days a week, three hundred and sixty five days 121 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:20,400 Speaker 2: a year. Second is that we have the ability to 122 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:25,600 Speaker 2: bring in major NonStop services from key Asia locations and 123 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:30,560 Speaker 2: driving those export containers back to those key locations. Thirdly, 124 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:35,080 Speaker 2: is the long standing institutional knowledge from our dock workers 125 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:38,320 Speaker 2: at the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, the broker and 126 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:42,880 Speaker 2: forwarder community, the marine terminal operators and shipping concerns that 127 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:46,440 Speaker 2: bring this cargo to market. That stacks us up against 128 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:48,480 Speaker 2: anyone else in this port business. 129 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 1: And you mentioned, you know, intact containers moving eastward. I 130 00:07:55,800 --> 00:08:01,240 Speaker 1: guess so I'm assuming both major railroads service the port, 131 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:03,240 Speaker 1: Burlington Northern and Union Pacific. 132 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 2: That's correct, And this is really their biggest market to 133 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:11,920 Speaker 2: distribute goods throughout the country, connecting line agreements that bring 134 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:15,160 Speaker 2: cargo to the East Coast as well, and with more 135 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 2: than sixty percent of all cargo that leaves California by rail, 136 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:22,520 Speaker 2: two important partners in the success of this port complex. 137 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:27,240 Speaker 1: Great, And you know you mentioned earlier, you know, maybe 138 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:30,880 Speaker 1: the pull forward demand on tariffs. Obviously tarifs are or 139 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:34,000 Speaker 1: the talk of tariffs are more fluid than the water 140 00:08:34,120 --> 00:08:37,240 Speaker 1: at the port. Can you talk about you know, I 141 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:39,800 Speaker 1: don't know if you have an opinion about you know, 142 00:08:39,840 --> 00:08:42,240 Speaker 1: some of the new stuff that they're talking about about, 143 00:08:42,920 --> 00:08:46,840 Speaker 1: you know, Trump floating the idea on service or fees 144 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:50,480 Speaker 1: for you know, Chinese ships coming into the port. Is 145 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:54,640 Speaker 1: that just gonna force shippers to bring their products into 146 00:08:55,120 --> 00:08:58,160 Speaker 1: you know, I guess Canada and Mexico and then ship 147 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:00,240 Speaker 1: them into the US. Or do you think that that's 148 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:03,360 Speaker 1: really not going to be a huge event for the port. 149 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:08,280 Speaker 2: Well, with this recent announcement, certainly there are discussions across 150 00:09:08,280 --> 00:09:12,680 Speaker 2: board rooms to operating centers, across our supply chain as 151 00:09:12,679 --> 00:09:16,200 Speaker 2: to how to handle this latest overture. A million a 152 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:19,360 Speaker 2: million five dollars per vessel call is a big number 153 00:09:19,400 --> 00:09:23,320 Speaker 2: on a ship that holds fifteen to sixteen thousand containers. 154 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:28,200 Speaker 2: Will that cost effectively be absorbed by the shipowner or 155 00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:31,520 Speaker 2: will it be passed on to the import export community 156 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:35,040 Speaker 2: or even out to US as American consumers. I don't 157 00:09:35,080 --> 00:09:37,880 Speaker 2: think any determinations have been made right now, but it's 158 00:09:37,960 --> 00:09:42,800 Speaker 2: yet another variable in this extremely complex equation of supply 159 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:46,640 Speaker 2: chain and costs that have people looking very closely right 160 00:09:46,679 --> 00:09:49,080 Speaker 2: now at our key transpecific market. 161 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:52,560 Speaker 1: This might be a silly question, but like you know 162 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:57,640 Speaker 1: that the increased talk of protectionism by the new administration, 163 00:09:57,800 --> 00:10:00,559 Speaker 1: the talk of tariffs. You know this other duty that 164 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:04,840 Speaker 1: they're talking about. Are those all headwinds for the parts? 165 00:10:04,880 --> 00:10:08,719 Speaker 1: Can they betail winds? Is there any benefit that you 166 00:10:08,800 --> 00:10:09,520 Speaker 1: might get from that. 167 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:14,640 Speaker 2: Well, we're going to stay engaged, nimble, and agile when 168 00:10:14,679 --> 00:10:17,360 Speaker 2: it comes to this discussion. And here is my point. 169 00:10:17,720 --> 00:10:20,640 Speaker 2: When we saw the first round of tariffs implemented back 170 00:10:20,679 --> 00:10:24,640 Speaker 2: in the springtime of twenty eighteen, we saw disruptions to 171 00:10:24,679 --> 00:10:28,560 Speaker 2: the supply chain, heavy runoffs before tariff milestone date of 172 00:10:28,679 --> 00:10:32,480 Speaker 2: cargo volume, and then really big drop offs after those 173 00:10:32,520 --> 00:10:35,360 Speaker 2: new tariffs went into place, so much so that in 174 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:38,640 Speaker 2: the fourth quarter of twenty nineteen, after we had gone 175 00:10:38,679 --> 00:10:41,200 Speaker 2: through fifths and starts of bringing a lot of cargo, 176 00:10:41,280 --> 00:10:45,079 Speaker 2: in that fourth quarter showed us sixteen percent drop in 177 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:47,719 Speaker 2: cargo with the Port of Los Angeles because we had 178 00:10:47,760 --> 00:10:51,200 Speaker 2: all the brake pads and computer keyboards and tires in 179 00:10:51,280 --> 00:10:56,600 Speaker 2: our warehouses that we could possibly hold. Similarly, today, the 180 00:10:56,720 --> 00:11:01,959 Speaker 2: speed component has been our value proposition to market for decades. 181 00:11:02,040 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 2: Getting cargo from North Asia through the Los Angeles gateway 182 00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:09,120 Speaker 2: to the consuming public of the United States has been 183 00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:13,600 Speaker 2: our hallmark. And yet since that twenty eighteen first trade 184 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:17,480 Speaker 2: policy change, we saw China, which was fifty seven percent 185 00:11:17,520 --> 00:11:21,920 Speaker 2: of our business portfolio, dropped down to forty five percent 186 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:26,280 Speaker 2: in recent months. Yet we've still grown here in LA 187 00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:30,040 Speaker 2: because we've chased the cargo. As sourcing and manufacturing has 188 00:11:30,120 --> 00:11:34,880 Speaker 2: migrated to Southeast Asia, more NonStop services and additional capacity 189 00:11:34,960 --> 00:11:37,720 Speaker 2: have been put in play by the liner shipping companies, 190 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:42,679 Speaker 2: and it's availed us the opportunity to continue pursuing cargo growth. 191 00:11:43,040 --> 00:11:45,920 Speaker 2: So there's a lot to be done. We've got some experience. 192 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:48,640 Speaker 2: We've got to keep our heads about us and make 193 00:11:48,679 --> 00:11:50,920 Speaker 2: sure that we find the best way to get products 194 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:54,800 Speaker 2: into the United States for the American manufacturer and consumer 195 00:11:55,120 --> 00:11:58,320 Speaker 2: as well as that export market which is so important 196 00:11:58,640 --> 00:11:59,720 Speaker 2: to the US economy. 197 00:12:00,440 --> 00:12:02,360 Speaker 1: So, you know, you mentioned earlier that you know, you 198 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:05,120 Speaker 1: had a really busy year and you know the backlogs 199 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:08,240 Speaker 1: were I believe you said that there were none, you know, 200 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:11,559 Speaker 1: which is fantastic. Obviously during the pandemic, there were a 201 00:12:11,640 --> 00:12:14,360 Speaker 1: lot of backlogs at the ports, and you know it 202 00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:16,199 Speaker 1: wasn't just the Port of LA that it was a 203 00:12:16,280 --> 00:12:19,920 Speaker 1: systematic through most ports in the US. What did you 204 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:23,840 Speaker 1: guys learn from that in terms of maybe you're operating 205 00:12:24,080 --> 00:12:28,040 Speaker 1: a little differently so that doesn't happen again or it's minimized. 206 00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:31,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, Lee, I think number one, we got a lot smarter, 207 00:12:31,720 --> 00:12:34,040 Speaker 2: smarter how to engage. This is still to me a 208 00:12:34,120 --> 00:12:37,360 Speaker 2: relationship business, and when one part of our supply chain 209 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:39,679 Speaker 2: is hurting or feeling some impediments, we've all got a 210 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:43,760 Speaker 2: rally to help support. Secondly, data flow has been really 211 00:12:43,840 --> 00:12:47,280 Speaker 2: important to us. Our port optimizer, co developed with the 212 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:50,880 Speaker 2: wab Tech Company, can now see cargo forty days before 213 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:53,880 Speaker 2: it arrives Los Angeles and that allows us to better 214 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:58,839 Speaker 2: plan our great skilled labor, the land, and our machinery 215 00:12:58,880 --> 00:13:02,520 Speaker 2: to handle that cargo. No surprises here. And then thirdly, 216 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:05,880 Speaker 2: what we saw is that we needed to maintain a 217 00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:09,520 Speaker 2: high level of velocity for the cargo crossing our docks. 218 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:12,000 Speaker 2: This is not meant to be a warehouse, but a 219 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:15,200 Speaker 2: transit facility. And what we saw over the last eighteen 220 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:17,920 Speaker 2: months is that the cargo that moves out by truck 221 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:23,120 Speaker 2: sits fewer days than it did even before COVID nineteen, 222 00:13:23,520 --> 00:13:25,680 Speaker 2: so meaning that we're moving the cargo in and out 223 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:28,560 Speaker 2: very quickly. And those long shoremen I continue to mention, 224 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:32,880 Speaker 2: are averaging about eleven to twelve thousand containers exchange per 225 00:13:32,960 --> 00:13:35,559 Speaker 2: vessel call. That's the best in the business today. 226 00:13:36,040 --> 00:13:41,079 Speaker 1: So, you know, speaking of longshoremen, obviously, automations always a 227 00:13:41,120 --> 00:13:45,719 Speaker 1: sticking point with unions and sometimes understandably so can you 228 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:48,280 Speaker 1: can you talk about, you know, the transition that the 229 00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:51,880 Speaker 1: port has done to be more productive with technology. You 230 00:13:51,920 --> 00:13:56,200 Speaker 1: know what has I guess labor embraced or been willing 231 00:13:56,559 --> 00:13:59,360 Speaker 1: to work with you on and kind of what are 232 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:03,520 Speaker 1: the red lines for labor when trying to you know, 233 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:07,520 Speaker 1: you know, leverage that technology at. 234 00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:09,959 Speaker 2: Least on the West coast of the United States, covering 235 00:14:10,559 --> 00:14:14,240 Speaker 2: twenty nine ports and twenty two thousand aisle w DOC workers. 236 00:14:14,559 --> 00:14:18,960 Speaker 2: Negotiations took place to codify this technology language in the 237 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:23,520 Speaker 2: two thousand and eight Collective Bargaining Agreement, and what we've 238 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:26,680 Speaker 2: seen from then till now, quite honestly, are mixed results. 239 00:14:27,160 --> 00:14:29,360 Speaker 2: We know here at the Port of Los Angeles that 240 00:14:29,520 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 2: we will never see it's on where technology is moving 241 00:14:31,880 --> 00:14:35,880 Speaker 2: faster than it is right now, but we cannot leave 242 00:14:35,920 --> 00:14:40,720 Speaker 2: the worker behind. In part, driving more cargo means more jobs. 243 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:43,560 Speaker 2: For every four containers that go through our port complex, 244 00:14:43,800 --> 00:14:46,960 Speaker 2: we create one job, and that is SACRISANCT to us. 245 00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:52,600 Speaker 2: But with technology comes an opportunity to increase capacity and 246 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:55,960 Speaker 2: the number of containers moved. It allows companies to get 247 00:14:55,960 --> 00:14:59,320 Speaker 2: a pop to their top line revenue and improve margin play. 248 00:14:59,520 --> 00:15:03,240 Speaker 2: We don't necessarily have to see the drastic cuts of 249 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:06,920 Speaker 2: existing workers that have been the case in some of 250 00:15:06,960 --> 00:15:09,440 Speaker 2: these operations, and that's going to take a lot of 251 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:13,600 Speaker 2: work from policymakers, to labor leaders and private sector companies 252 00:15:13,800 --> 00:15:16,000 Speaker 2: to help move this along in a little bit different 253 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:19,240 Speaker 2: fashion that we've seen so far and give a line 254 00:15:19,240 --> 00:15:22,600 Speaker 2: of sight to the worker that careers will be able 255 00:15:22,640 --> 00:15:25,640 Speaker 2: to continue. In our part here in Los Angeles and 256 00:15:25,680 --> 00:15:29,840 Speaker 2: Long Beach, we're developing the United States first goods Movement 257 00:15:29,880 --> 00:15:34,640 Speaker 2: training campus. The initial idea is to upscale and reskill 258 00:15:34,760 --> 00:15:37,600 Speaker 2: workers for the new age of technology, whether it be 259 00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:42,400 Speaker 2: robotics or green technology, and if you're of my vintage, 260 00:15:42,440 --> 00:15:45,560 Speaker 2: you need to relearn those skills to be competitive for 261 00:15:45,640 --> 00:15:49,360 Speaker 2: the years ahead. We also want to attract, retain, and 262 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:53,920 Speaker 2: recruit new folks for that next generation of workforce, whether 263 00:15:53,960 --> 00:15:57,600 Speaker 2: you're coding today for today's technology or you're out there 264 00:15:57,800 --> 00:16:01,120 Speaker 2: moving all this cargo through the comp So there's a 265 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:04,680 Speaker 2: lot of work to do again on a relationship based 266 00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:09,000 Speaker 2: approach to bring necessary parties together to make sure that 267 00:16:09,400 --> 00:16:12,280 Speaker 2: one advance is not leaving others behind. 268 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:16,040 Speaker 1: And so you know the technology that you haven't adopted 269 00:16:16,160 --> 00:16:18,240 Speaker 1: over the last I don't know, five or ten years. 270 00:16:18,320 --> 00:16:20,800 Speaker 1: What's been the biggest game changer in terms of throughput 271 00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:21,280 Speaker 1: at the port? 272 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:24,240 Speaker 2: A couple things. I think number one, when I said 273 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:27,320 Speaker 2: earlier that we got smarter about business, we're seeing the 274 00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:30,440 Speaker 2: productivity gains on the number of containers that we can 275 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:31,640 Speaker 2: move through this complex. 276 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:32,480 Speaker 1: It wasn't but. 277 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:36,120 Speaker 2: Ten or fifteen years ago we're at eight million container units. 278 00:16:36,120 --> 00:16:39,240 Speaker 2: We thought we had met capacity and really we were 279 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:42,160 Speaker 2: blocked down in the number of container ships we could welcome. 280 00:16:42,400 --> 00:16:45,520 Speaker 2: And then we pierced that ten million TEU level not once, 281 00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:48,120 Speaker 2: but twice. Now you're at the Port of Los Angeles 282 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:51,840 Speaker 2: and it's my estimation that even with our second busiest year, 283 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:57,360 Speaker 2: we probably ran at about eighty percent of solutions capacity, 284 00:16:57,640 --> 00:17:00,640 Speaker 2: meaning we've still got upside to grow because we know 285 00:17:00,920 --> 00:17:03,520 Speaker 2: how to do this business better and better every day 286 00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:07,520 Speaker 2: with the great institutional knowledge that we have across the harbor. 287 00:17:08,080 --> 00:17:11,560 Speaker 2: The gains on the automation side may mean for longer hours, 288 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:15,160 Speaker 2: lower cost per unit. But again that knowledge about how 289 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:17,520 Speaker 2: to drive the cargo through and make sure that we're 290 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:21,880 Speaker 2: an employer of choice is also very important to our local, 291 00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:26,359 Speaker 2: municipal and regional economies. Keeping people on the job and 292 00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:28,720 Speaker 2: keeping people moving forward is what we're all about. 293 00:17:29,560 --> 00:17:31,800 Speaker 1: So through moving stuff through the port, you know, on 294 00:17:31,880 --> 00:17:35,000 Speaker 1: the trucking side, on the drade side, can you talk about, 295 00:17:35,040 --> 00:17:38,160 Speaker 1: you know, how the port's improved that productivity and kinon 296 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:39,159 Speaker 1: of what's been driving it. 297 00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:42,199 Speaker 2: Yeah, and we're very pleased with improvements, but we know 298 00:17:42,320 --> 00:17:45,960 Speaker 2: we can't stop here. On average, a container that comes 299 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:48,240 Speaker 2: in waiting to move by trucks, it's for three days. 300 00:17:48,280 --> 00:17:52,120 Speaker 2: That's better than it was prior to the pandemic time. 301 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:54,480 Speaker 2: I'd like to see that number drop down a little 302 00:17:54,520 --> 00:17:57,400 Speaker 2: bit more more dual transactions. If a trucker is coming 303 00:17:57,440 --> 00:17:59,919 Speaker 2: to get an import container, let's bring in an empty 304 00:18:00,119 --> 00:18:05,000 Speaker 2: an export load and do that transaction simultaneously. We've also 305 00:18:05,520 --> 00:18:08,479 Speaker 2: just introduced in the last couple of months, the first 306 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:13,760 Speaker 2: ever truck reservation system as a module of the port optimizer. 307 00:18:14,440 --> 00:18:16,880 Speaker 2: What this will do is allow us to be more 308 00:18:16,920 --> 00:18:20,320 Speaker 2: efficient on the available truck appointments every single day. We've 309 00:18:20,359 --> 00:18:22,959 Speaker 2: been measuring this now for the better part of five years, 310 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:25,560 Speaker 2: and on average, we here at the Port of Los 311 00:18:25,600 --> 00:18:29,879 Speaker 2: Angeles use about fifty percent of available truck appointments, meaning 312 00:18:29,960 --> 00:18:33,440 Speaker 2: we've got about half of that capacity available to the marketplace. 313 00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:36,600 Speaker 2: If we could better point truckers in a direction of 314 00:18:36,640 --> 00:18:39,119 Speaker 2: when they can get in and out the quickest, have 315 00:18:39,320 --> 00:18:42,640 Speaker 2: the surety that an appointment means a container, and give 316 00:18:42,640 --> 00:18:45,760 Speaker 2: them confidence to keep coming back and getting a greater 317 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:49,320 Speaker 2: number of truck turns every day, the truck community can 318 00:18:49,320 --> 00:18:52,400 Speaker 2: make more money as well, and it also grows our 319 00:18:52,440 --> 00:18:57,000 Speaker 2: capacity by better utilizing these open appointments. Now, it's an 320 00:18:57,040 --> 00:19:00,480 Speaker 2: imperfect science. We're the first to do this, may stub 321 00:19:00,520 --> 00:19:02,359 Speaker 2: our tow here and there, but if we can go 322 00:19:02,440 --> 00:19:07,000 Speaker 2: from fifty percent truck appointment utilization to sixty percent, that's 323 00:19:07,040 --> 00:19:08,359 Speaker 2: a gain that we want to build. 324 00:19:09,760 --> 00:19:13,159 Speaker 1: And can you you know you mentioned earlier that pollutions 325 00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:16,080 Speaker 1: at the at the lowest level that it has been 326 00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:21,520 Speaker 1: in some time. What's driving those improvements now? 327 00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:23,600 Speaker 2: I think it was the vision of leaders more than 328 00:19:23,600 --> 00:19:26,720 Speaker 2: two decades ago to create what we call the Clean 329 00:19:26,880 --> 00:19:29,640 Speaker 2: Air Action Plan, and it was a way not only 330 00:19:29,680 --> 00:19:33,639 Speaker 2: to grow jobs and cargo, but to reduce pollution, and 331 00:19:33,720 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 2: in cooperation and partnership with original equipment manufacturers for both 332 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:43,200 Speaker 2: trucks and on port cargo handling equipment, we found cleaner 333 00:19:43,400 --> 00:19:47,800 Speaker 2: technology to do business, whether it's renewable diesel or low 334 00:19:47,880 --> 00:19:52,400 Speaker 2: Knox engines. Today, now we've taken a step way outside 335 00:19:52,440 --> 00:19:55,879 Speaker 2: our comfort zone. And in twenty seventeen, the mayors of 336 00:19:55,920 --> 00:19:59,119 Speaker 2: Long Beach in Los Angeles resolved that by twenty thirty 337 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:02,280 Speaker 2: ports in the San Pedro Bay would be the first 338 00:20:02,280 --> 00:20:06,960 Speaker 2: ever zero emission cargo handling ports. That means that about 339 00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:11,080 Speaker 2: five thousand units of cargo handling equipment would be moved 340 00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:15,359 Speaker 2: into the zero emission category. Then by twenty thirty five, 341 00:20:15,800 --> 00:20:19,760 Speaker 2: that resolution called for all twenty thousand heavy duty Class 342 00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:23,399 Speaker 2: eight trucks to be zero emission. Again, no one else 343 00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:26,080 Speaker 2: has stepped into an arena like this, but the ports 344 00:20:26,080 --> 00:20:30,000 Speaker 2: of Long Beach and Los Angeles. There have been some strides. Today. 345 00:20:30,080 --> 00:20:32,879 Speaker 2: Out of those twenty thousand trucks, we have almost five 346 00:20:33,040 --> 00:20:36,960 Speaker 2: hundred that are classified as ZE, and about ten percent 347 00:20:37,320 --> 00:20:40,720 Speaker 2: of the overall equipment on the terminals is now of 348 00:20:40,760 --> 00:20:43,719 Speaker 2: the ZE variety. Too long way to go. We've got 349 00:20:43,760 --> 00:20:48,840 Speaker 2: to build infrastructure for fueling and energy transmission, storage and 350 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:52,000 Speaker 2: off take. We've moved into an arena where we're testing 351 00:20:52,119 --> 00:20:56,199 Speaker 2: hydrogen as well for longer haul trucks and cargo handling 352 00:20:56,240 --> 00:20:59,840 Speaker 2: equipment on the docks. A deal with the DWP Los 353 00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:04,000 Speaker 2: Angelus Department of Water and Power called Zeppio Project five 354 00:21:04,080 --> 00:21:09,160 Speaker 2: hundred million dollars to generate transport and store more electricity 355 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:12,520 Speaker 2: than ever to help feed our marine terminals is in 356 00:21:12,560 --> 00:21:16,359 Speaker 2: progress right now with a due completion date of twenty thirty. 357 00:21:16,960 --> 00:21:22,399 Speaker 2: And lastly, we're also creating green shipping corridors. This is 358 00:21:22,480 --> 00:21:25,000 Speaker 2: now between eight ports in Asia and the ports of 359 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:28,520 Speaker 2: Long Beach and Los Angeles to try to affect change 360 00:21:28,560 --> 00:21:31,480 Speaker 2: with the ocean going vessels who in their own category 361 00:21:31,880 --> 00:21:35,600 Speaker 2: emit the most pollution of any other the supply chain 362 00:21:35,720 --> 00:21:40,040 Speaker 2: conveyance machines. If we were to reduce the pollution in 363 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:43,640 Speaker 2: the trade from Shanghai to the southern California ports by 364 00:21:43,720 --> 00:21:46,480 Speaker 2: ten percent, that would be the equivalent of all the 365 00:21:46,480 --> 00:21:49,320 Speaker 2: pollution at the Port of Los Angeles in one year. 366 00:21:49,920 --> 00:21:52,520 Speaker 2: So the stakes are pretty high, but we've already seen 367 00:21:52,560 --> 00:21:57,439 Speaker 2: proof of concept the Alete mirsk called Los Angeles last summertime, 368 00:21:58,200 --> 00:22:01,280 Speaker 2: transiting all the way from Jahmen in Fujian Province in 369 00:22:01,359 --> 00:22:05,600 Speaker 2: China sixteen days with a sixteen thousand TEU vessel to 370 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:09,320 Speaker 2: Los Angeles, the first ever zero emissions port call here 371 00:22:09,320 --> 00:22:11,679 Speaker 2: in La So now we've got a long way to 372 00:22:11,720 --> 00:22:15,280 Speaker 2: go to manufacture this renewable energy, make it available and 373 00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:19,080 Speaker 2: cost effective for the liner shipping companies. But we're now 374 00:22:19,119 --> 00:22:22,320 Speaker 2: showing that the new built ships have the capability and 375 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:25,439 Speaker 2: technology to move in a ze environment. A lot of 376 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:27,919 Speaker 2: upside here, but plenty of work for us to do. 377 00:22:28,359 --> 00:22:30,680 Speaker 1: So when you mentioned the twenty thousand Class eight trucks 378 00:22:31,000 --> 00:22:34,240 Speaker 1: to get to zero, these are the dreage operators that 379 00:22:34,280 --> 00:22:35,639 Speaker 1: going out of the ports. Correct. 380 00:22:36,080 --> 00:22:36,880 Speaker 2: That is correct? 381 00:22:37,560 --> 00:22:40,240 Speaker 1: And then like so, a lot of these are owner operators. 382 00:22:40,320 --> 00:22:42,800 Speaker 1: They don't have a lot of capital. How are they 383 00:22:42,800 --> 00:22:44,400 Speaker 1: going to be able to afford a truck that could 384 00:22:44,440 --> 00:22:47,080 Speaker 1: be two or three times more than the cost of 385 00:22:47,119 --> 00:22:48,440 Speaker 1: a traditional diesel truck. 386 00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:52,560 Speaker 2: It certainly is a postgraduate case study on how we 387 00:22:52,680 --> 00:22:56,040 Speaker 2: transition this entire industry. But what I can say is 388 00:22:56,080 --> 00:22:59,639 Speaker 2: this that incremental gains are very important to build confidence 389 00:23:00,040 --> 00:23:02,800 Speaker 2: in both private sector interests as well as what we 390 00:23:02,840 --> 00:23:05,720 Speaker 2: can get done on the grounds here. First, we've collected 391 00:23:05,720 --> 00:23:08,720 Speaker 2: a clean truck fee now for about forty four and 392 00:23:08,760 --> 00:23:11,760 Speaker 2: a half years. That money is intended to help bridge 393 00:23:11,800 --> 00:23:15,480 Speaker 2: the gap between a new build, zero emissions truck and 394 00:23:15,520 --> 00:23:18,679 Speaker 2: that which is of the garden variety today that moves 395 00:23:18,760 --> 00:23:22,359 Speaker 2: all this cargo so effectively. We've partnered with the State 396 00:23:22,359 --> 00:23:25,960 Speaker 2: of California on a voucher stacking program that helps cut 397 00:23:25,960 --> 00:23:29,760 Speaker 2: that gap down even more so and giving advantage to 398 00:23:29,920 --> 00:23:34,840 Speaker 2: those smaller operators for early takeup on these vouchers and 399 00:23:34,920 --> 00:23:39,480 Speaker 2: grant capabilities. Still, the gap is big. The average battery 400 00:23:39,520 --> 00:23:43,280 Speaker 2: electric truck is about five hundred thousand dollars. The average 401 00:23:43,680 --> 00:23:47,640 Speaker 2: hydrogen fuel cell electric truck is about eight hundred thousand 402 00:23:47,680 --> 00:23:51,600 Speaker 2: dollars in pre production stage. While that current rig that 403 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:54,920 Speaker 2: is operated by the owner operator, the small business person 404 00:23:55,320 --> 00:23:59,080 Speaker 2: costs about fifty thousand dollars on the tertiary market. There's 405 00:23:59,119 --> 00:24:01,080 Speaker 2: a long way to go. Oh, So we've got to 406 00:24:01,119 --> 00:24:04,600 Speaker 2: continue to make these gradual advances, knowing that we've got 407 00:24:04,600 --> 00:24:08,240 Speaker 2: milestone dates in the future, and in partnership with the 408 00:24:08,280 --> 00:24:12,000 Speaker 2: OEMs helped drive interests so we can bring down the 409 00:24:12,080 --> 00:24:16,600 Speaker 2: commercially available costs at the same time, it doesn't just 410 00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:19,879 Speaker 2: stop with the unit itself. We've got to build the infrastructure, 411 00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:24,280 Speaker 2: in part charging, in part fueling for hydrogen fuel cell rings. 412 00:24:24,640 --> 00:24:29,639 Speaker 2: That's a private public sector partnership that is ongoing. Again, 413 00:24:29,720 --> 00:24:32,520 Speaker 2: I said, this is a daunting task and the numbers 414 00:24:32,520 --> 00:24:35,560 Speaker 2: are huge, but every truck that we put on the 415 00:24:35,640 --> 00:24:38,359 Speaker 2: road takes a little bit more pollution out of the air, 416 00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:41,320 Speaker 2: and we're down to the last nine percent of that 417 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:43,080 Speaker 2: tailpipe pollution to make it work. 418 00:24:43,800 --> 00:24:46,000 Speaker 1: So what is the port doing to make sure there's 419 00:24:46,320 --> 00:24:49,720 Speaker 1: an ample supply of these alternative fuels for the ships 420 00:24:49,840 --> 00:24:53,600 Speaker 1: or for the trucks, whether it's I guess, plug in 421 00:24:53,720 --> 00:24:58,280 Speaker 1: or hydrogen like you mentioned, or for the ship's ammonia 422 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:01,800 Speaker 1: or great all the different green and blue fuels that 423 00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:02,919 Speaker 1: they have out there. 424 00:25:03,200 --> 00:25:05,240 Speaker 2: Right, And that's all the work that's taking place today. 425 00:25:05,480 --> 00:25:08,879 Speaker 2: This concept of the green Shipping Corridor originally started between 426 00:25:08,920 --> 00:25:12,359 Speaker 2: Shanghai and the ports here in southern California talking about 427 00:25:12,359 --> 00:25:14,400 Speaker 2: what we could do not only to bring the private 428 00:25:14,440 --> 00:25:19,040 Speaker 2: sector ship owners in but look closely toward their needs 429 00:25:19,080 --> 00:25:22,320 Speaker 2: of what we traditionally call bunkering. How can we build 430 00:25:22,359 --> 00:25:26,840 Speaker 2: the infrastructure necessary to manufacture the renewable energy like any methanol, 431 00:25:26,920 --> 00:25:31,600 Speaker 2: ammonia or others and derivatives that will be contemplated in 432 00:25:31,640 --> 00:25:34,480 Speaker 2: the years and decades to come. And how can we 433 00:25:34,480 --> 00:25:37,439 Speaker 2: give confidence that private sector that when their ship comes in, 434 00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:40,400 Speaker 2: we'll be able to fuel up. That's still work that's 435 00:25:40,400 --> 00:25:43,720 Speaker 2: taking place today. In fact, in combination with our friends 436 00:25:43,800 --> 00:25:48,600 Speaker 2: in Shanghai and the California Secretary of Transportation Tokesoma Shakan, 437 00:25:48,880 --> 00:25:51,280 Speaker 2: we'll be having a discussion on that in the second 438 00:25:51,320 --> 00:25:54,160 Speaker 2: week of March right here in Long Beach to talk 439 00:25:54,160 --> 00:25:58,480 Speaker 2: about how we can continue to advance the green shipping corridors. 440 00:25:58,880 --> 00:26:01,040 Speaker 2: When it comes to the trucks and the rigs on 441 00:26:01,080 --> 00:26:05,360 Speaker 2: the ground, this truly is a private public sector engagement 442 00:26:05,680 --> 00:26:09,239 Speaker 2: that takes place across a wide geography. In fact, there 443 00:26:09,240 --> 00:26:14,240 Speaker 2: are only ninety two high speed chargers in the country 444 00:26:14,280 --> 00:26:18,360 Speaker 2: today for these big rig trucks, we've got to make 445 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:21,320 Speaker 2: them more available. And you think about the traffic here 446 00:26:21,320 --> 00:26:24,560 Speaker 2: in southern California, about a third of all our cargo 447 00:26:24,720 --> 00:26:28,000 Speaker 2: goes out to that fifty sixty mile perimeter area known 448 00:26:28,040 --> 00:26:31,840 Speaker 2: as the Inland Empire. If we can just in your minds, 449 00:26:31,880 --> 00:26:36,399 Speaker 2: I think about put charging stations and hydrogen fueling capabilities 450 00:26:36,440 --> 00:26:40,639 Speaker 2: where truck stops and fueling stations are located today along 451 00:26:40,720 --> 00:26:44,320 Speaker 2: that normal path a trucker takes, where she has confidence 452 00:26:44,359 --> 00:26:47,760 Speaker 2: in getting fueling, getting her tires and brakes fixed, that's 453 00:26:47,800 --> 00:26:49,840 Speaker 2: going to go a long way. And we do have 454 00:26:49,960 --> 00:26:53,760 Speaker 2: data associated with the run rates of the trucks, the stops, etc. 455 00:26:54,040 --> 00:26:57,840 Speaker 2: And nothing proprietary, but enough to give us that confidence 456 00:26:57,880 --> 00:27:01,840 Speaker 2: where we can negotiate and begin discussion with private sector interests. 457 00:27:02,119 --> 00:27:05,399 Speaker 2: That too will help build up the capabilities and the 458 00:27:05,480 --> 00:27:07,960 Speaker 2: interest in migrating to these ze rates. 459 00:27:08,480 --> 00:27:11,280 Speaker 1: And so with a different administration in the White House 460 00:27:11,400 --> 00:27:14,919 Speaker 1: and there you know apparent love for fossil fuels. Is 461 00:27:14,960 --> 00:27:17,840 Speaker 1: the transition going to be more difficult and more expensive 462 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:18,440 Speaker 1: for the port? 463 00:27:19,240 --> 00:27:21,720 Speaker 2: Well, that remains to be seen. But the way we 464 00:27:21,720 --> 00:27:26,679 Speaker 2: look at investments traditionally from an infrastructure standpoint, our community 465 00:27:26,720 --> 00:27:31,600 Speaker 2: and public access funding, or our environmental strategy, we don't 466 00:27:31,600 --> 00:27:35,200 Speaker 2: build on just one budget cycle, one economic cycle, or 467 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:39,480 Speaker 2: even one election cycle. This is a multi decade approach 468 00:27:39,560 --> 00:27:42,040 Speaker 2: that's going to require a lot of input from so 469 00:27:42,200 --> 00:27:45,200 Speaker 2: many and the continued investment from the Port of Los 470 00:27:45,240 --> 00:27:48,320 Speaker 2: Angeles along with our friends in long beach, and as 471 00:27:48,320 --> 00:27:51,520 Speaker 2: long as that cargo volume can stay high, those revenues 472 00:27:51,520 --> 00:27:54,399 Speaker 2: get invested right back into these areas that are so 473 00:27:54,440 --> 00:27:55,320 Speaker 2: important to the port. 474 00:27:55,640 --> 00:27:58,800 Speaker 1: We'll continue on all right. So this year, the port, 475 00:27:59,240 --> 00:28:02,480 Speaker 1: you know, continue to see some good growth. I believe 476 00:28:02,520 --> 00:28:05,480 Speaker 1: it was like nine or ten percent for full containers 477 00:28:05,520 --> 00:28:08,359 Speaker 1: coming into the port. What is the outlook for twenty 478 00:28:08,359 --> 00:28:11,080 Speaker 1: twenty five? Obviously there's a lot of uncertainty out there 479 00:28:11,119 --> 00:28:14,600 Speaker 1: with the consumer. Are you guys expecting an up year, 480 00:28:15,160 --> 00:28:16,640 Speaker 1: a flat year, a down year. 481 00:28:17,440 --> 00:28:20,159 Speaker 2: Will be competitive, But it is my view lead that 482 00:28:20,240 --> 00:28:23,520 Speaker 2: the second half of this calendar year we'll see a 483 00:28:23,560 --> 00:28:26,160 Speaker 2: bit of a drop in cargo. I'm estimating right now 484 00:28:26,200 --> 00:28:29,760 Speaker 2: about ten percent, simply because we've had so much product 485 00:28:29,800 --> 00:28:33,560 Speaker 2: shipped in already as a hedge against purported tariffs that 486 00:28:33,600 --> 00:28:37,199 Speaker 2: are now starting to become a little more clear. And 487 00:28:37,240 --> 00:28:39,600 Speaker 2: again it is going to be a cycle. We witness 488 00:28:39,680 --> 00:28:43,080 Speaker 2: this to an extent in twenty eighteen and nineteen. We'll 489 00:28:43,080 --> 00:28:46,520 Speaker 2: get our sea legs under US as manufacturing shifts. But 490 00:28:46,640 --> 00:28:52,000 Speaker 2: also today we're seeing procurement executives negotiate with manufacturers on 491 00:28:52,040 --> 00:28:55,200 Speaker 2: what all this means for the landed cost of their goods. 492 00:28:55,360 --> 00:28:57,920 Speaker 2: So there are a lot of different discussions happening in 493 00:28:57,960 --> 00:29:00,600 Speaker 2: the industry, but safe to say a lot of front 494 00:29:00,600 --> 00:29:02,800 Speaker 2: loading means will probably have a little bit of a 495 00:29:02,880 --> 00:29:07,200 Speaker 2: drop off, but nothing debilitating to the Port of Los Angeles, right. 496 00:29:07,080 --> 00:29:09,240 Speaker 1: And so a lot of people don't know how ports operate. 497 00:29:09,520 --> 00:29:11,840 Speaker 1: So are you more or less a landlord and you 498 00:29:11,920 --> 00:29:15,000 Speaker 1: kind of lease out the space to other operators that 499 00:29:15,440 --> 00:29:18,560 Speaker 1: operate the different parts of the port. 500 00:29:19,840 --> 00:29:22,760 Speaker 2: That's right today, on that seventy five hundred acres, we've 501 00:29:22,800 --> 00:29:25,960 Speaker 2: got twenty five marine terminals with two hundred and seventy 502 00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:31,000 Speaker 2: cranes leased out to private sector interests with the effort 503 00:29:31,080 --> 00:29:34,800 Speaker 2: to move international and domestic trade. We have some three 504 00:29:34,880 --> 00:29:38,720 Speaker 2: hundred leases that also include retail, dining, entertainment, and a 505 00:29:38,760 --> 00:29:42,480 Speaker 2: hotel right here on our waterfront. We've also got a 506 00:29:42,560 --> 00:29:46,080 Speaker 2: Harbord apartment staff that's made up of some industry folks 507 00:29:46,120 --> 00:29:49,120 Speaker 2: like Mike de Bernardo, Eric Harris, and Chris Chase who 508 00:29:49,120 --> 00:29:52,640 Speaker 2: have decades of experience in liner shipping, marine terminals, and 509 00:29:52,760 --> 00:29:56,479 Speaker 2: land transportation that are additive to these conversations with our 510 00:29:56,480 --> 00:30:00,400 Speaker 2: private sector partners to help LA become that the gateway 511 00:30:00,400 --> 00:30:04,720 Speaker 2: of choice for many of our import and export community, and. 512 00:30:04,720 --> 00:30:07,720 Speaker 1: These terminal leases, I'm assuming they're very long term in nature. 513 00:30:09,120 --> 00:30:13,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, they are. Typically they're twenty five to thirty year agreements, 514 00:30:13,560 --> 00:30:16,040 Speaker 2: and it allows us to amortize the works that we 515 00:30:16,080 --> 00:30:20,280 Speaker 2: do on infrastructure and for the audience. Typically, our responsibility 516 00:30:20,280 --> 00:30:23,080 Speaker 2: as the Port of Los Angeles is at grade and 517 00:30:23,200 --> 00:30:27,240 Speaker 2: below infrastructure, getting the electricity and the plumbing down, making 518 00:30:27,280 --> 00:30:30,120 Speaker 2: sure the terminal tarmacs are in place, and that the 519 00:30:30,160 --> 00:30:33,320 Speaker 2: wharfs are fortified to handle these big ships. The main 520 00:30:33,400 --> 00:30:37,680 Speaker 2: channel continues its deepening plant at fifty three feet across, 521 00:30:38,000 --> 00:30:40,280 Speaker 2: meaning the biggest ships in the world can come up 522 00:30:40,280 --> 00:30:44,400 Speaker 2: and down that main channel and berth alongside are marine terminals. 523 00:30:44,920 --> 00:30:47,920 Speaker 2: Those who we leased to are then responsible for the 524 00:30:48,040 --> 00:30:51,920 Speaker 2: ground up, putting in buildings, buying or leasing equipment, and 525 00:30:51,960 --> 00:30:55,840 Speaker 2: putting in the necessary capabilities from a human resource standpoint 526 00:30:56,080 --> 00:30:59,680 Speaker 2: to move all this cargo internationally. It's a great combination 527 00:30:59,800 --> 00:31:02,560 Speaker 2: that has been successful for over a century and the 528 00:31:02,560 --> 00:31:05,400 Speaker 2: work continues to help drive the American economy. 529 00:31:06,560 --> 00:31:09,640 Speaker 1: And I guess what's the port's role in attracting new 530 00:31:09,680 --> 00:31:12,440 Speaker 1: business to these terminals. Do you work with them in 531 00:31:12,560 --> 00:31:16,040 Speaker 1: tandem to you know, move shipping lines and things like that, 532 00:31:16,240 --> 00:31:17,840 Speaker 1: or like how does that work? 533 00:31:18,520 --> 00:31:20,920 Speaker 2: Very closely, and as you know, Lee, most of the 534 00:31:20,960 --> 00:31:24,120 Speaker 2: shipping lines today that we work with on the international 535 00:31:24,160 --> 00:31:28,320 Speaker 2: stage are headquartered in Europe and Asia. Last year alone, 536 00:31:28,360 --> 00:31:31,840 Speaker 2: I traveled to Asia seven times and Europe twice to 537 00:31:31,920 --> 00:31:34,160 Speaker 2: make sure that we're not only keeping up those strong 538 00:31:34,200 --> 00:31:37,400 Speaker 2: business relationships, but sharing the virtues of this port of 539 00:31:37,440 --> 00:31:41,520 Speaker 2: Los Angeles. Even with the shifting trade policies and migration 540 00:31:41,600 --> 00:31:45,080 Speaker 2: of cargo moving south, we still want to be front 541 00:31:45,080 --> 00:31:47,800 Speaker 2: and center with the shipping lines, the marine terminal operators, 542 00:31:48,040 --> 00:31:52,000 Speaker 2: and equally as important, the importers and exporters who make 543 00:31:52,040 --> 00:31:54,000 Speaker 2: the call on where their cargo goes. 544 00:31:54,520 --> 00:31:56,800 Speaker 1: Sounds like you probably have a lot of freaking flyer miles. 545 00:31:57,840 --> 00:31:59,600 Speaker 2: I do, But you know, Lee, the last thing you 546 00:31:59,600 --> 00:32:00,840 Speaker 2: want to do at the end of the year is 547 00:32:00,840 --> 00:32:03,160 Speaker 2: get on another airplane. So I'll take care of that 548 00:32:03,240 --> 00:32:05,600 Speaker 2: business during the year, stay on the ground and try 549 00:32:05,640 --> 00:32:08,040 Speaker 2: to work on that golf game when the warmer weather 550 00:32:08,120 --> 00:32:12,200 Speaker 2: months come around. What's your handicapped, Jean, Oh, it's really bad. 551 00:32:12,240 --> 00:32:15,200 Speaker 2: I'm playing to about a sixteen, but on any day 552 00:32:15,360 --> 00:32:17,640 Speaker 2: it could look a little bit worse than that. For sure, 553 00:32:17,720 --> 00:32:20,160 Speaker 2: so keep you humble, but you're out there trying. 554 00:32:20,360 --> 00:32:22,520 Speaker 1: You have to tell me as bad as yours are is, 555 00:32:22,880 --> 00:32:25,120 Speaker 1: mine's probably five or six strokes more than that, so 556 00:32:25,320 --> 00:32:28,240 Speaker 1: we'll just keep it there. So what's your favorite thing 557 00:32:28,240 --> 00:32:30,320 Speaker 1: about your cerone roll at the Ports? 558 00:32:31,200 --> 00:32:33,880 Speaker 2: Well, after eleven years on the job, I still run 559 00:32:33,920 --> 00:32:36,880 Speaker 2: to work every day, and it's because of these friendships 560 00:32:36,880 --> 00:32:39,200 Speaker 2: and relationship I've built over the past three and a 561 00:32:39,240 --> 00:32:42,800 Speaker 2: half decades. We have nine hundred and fifteen other colleagues 562 00:32:42,800 --> 00:32:45,320 Speaker 2: here at the Harvard Apartment of Los Angeles that I 563 00:32:45,440 --> 00:32:48,720 Speaker 2: look to for guidance and support every day. But it's 564 00:32:48,800 --> 00:32:51,720 Speaker 2: just been amazing to watch these folks grow into new 565 00:32:51,800 --> 00:32:55,480 Speaker 2: jobs and new responsibilities. Our budget is tripled in the 566 00:32:55,520 --> 00:32:58,040 Speaker 2: time that I've been here, meaning that we've become three 567 00:32:58,240 --> 00:33:01,880 Speaker 2: times more productive with the great Harvard Apartment staff that 568 00:33:01,960 --> 00:33:05,040 Speaker 2: we have, and whether it's working with people in Asia, 569 00:33:05,160 --> 00:33:08,640 Speaker 2: Europe or right here at home across a wide variety 570 00:33:08,680 --> 00:33:11,800 Speaker 2: of segments and industries, it's just so much fun to 571 00:33:11,880 --> 00:33:14,280 Speaker 2: sit down with people and talk about how we could 572 00:33:14,320 --> 00:33:17,600 Speaker 2: do more for this economy, this port, and the companies 573 00:33:17,600 --> 00:33:20,120 Speaker 2: that we serve. Just a blast every day. 574 00:33:20,560 --> 00:33:22,560 Speaker 1: And you know when we did the introduction. You know 575 00:33:22,600 --> 00:33:24,840 Speaker 1: you worked at APL. How did you get into the 576 00:33:24,960 --> 00:33:26,360 Speaker 1: transportation industry? 577 00:33:27,240 --> 00:33:32,680 Speaker 2: You know when you started, I got very lucky after 578 00:33:33,360 --> 00:33:36,280 Speaker 2: earning my MBA from the University of New Orleans. The 579 00:33:36,320 --> 00:33:39,680 Speaker 2: price of oil was below nine dollars a barrel. Unemployment 580 00:33:39,760 --> 00:33:42,480 Speaker 2: was rising, and it was just after the stock market 581 00:33:42,600 --> 00:33:45,360 Speaker 2: crash in the late eighties. I had a really difficult 582 00:33:45,400 --> 00:33:48,440 Speaker 2: time finding a job. At the request of my father, 583 00:33:48,800 --> 00:33:51,360 Speaker 2: I then went to a headhunter in New Orleans that 584 00:33:51,400 --> 00:33:55,160 Speaker 2: had done some business with APL got me an interview, 585 00:33:55,560 --> 00:33:58,280 Speaker 2: and I was able to get that interview because my dad, 586 00:33:58,360 --> 00:34:01,000 Speaker 2: working for American Airlines, got me a free ticket to 587 00:34:01,040 --> 00:34:03,840 Speaker 2: fly to Cincinnati, Ohio, and was told that if I 588 00:34:03,840 --> 00:34:06,680 Speaker 2: did well there, I'd use another free ticket to fly 589 00:34:06,760 --> 00:34:09,359 Speaker 2: to the big bosses home in Chicago to see if 590 00:34:09,360 --> 00:34:11,560 Speaker 2: I could earn a job. And that was an entry 591 00:34:11,640 --> 00:34:15,160 Speaker 2: level sales support position that allowed me to work with 592 00:34:15,200 --> 00:34:18,080 Speaker 2: some of the most professional folks in the steamship industry 593 00:34:18,080 --> 00:34:21,400 Speaker 2: that I'd ever seen, and learned as quickly as possible 594 00:34:21,400 --> 00:34:24,000 Speaker 2: on the ground. But it was by chance, yet with 595 00:34:24,080 --> 00:34:26,000 Speaker 2: a direction of a person who had been in the 596 00:34:26,000 --> 00:34:30,319 Speaker 2: transportation sector, my own dad, that guided me properly well, 597 00:34:30,800 --> 00:34:31,640 Speaker 2: thanks to dads. 598 00:34:32,320 --> 00:34:34,480 Speaker 1: What I guess, you know, being a leader of not 599 00:34:34,520 --> 00:34:37,000 Speaker 1: only you know, a large organization at the port, but 600 00:34:37,040 --> 00:34:40,040 Speaker 1: you know you're also responsible for a large chunk of 601 00:34:39,840 --> 00:34:42,960 Speaker 1: the US economy. What kind of keeps you up at night? 602 00:34:43,440 --> 00:34:44,040 Speaker 1: If anything? 603 00:34:44,880 --> 00:34:46,839 Speaker 2: Well, I sleep pretty good. And that's why I say 604 00:34:46,840 --> 00:34:49,839 Speaker 2: our run to work every morning, And really it's because 605 00:34:49,880 --> 00:34:52,400 Speaker 2: there's so much in front of us. We talk about 606 00:34:52,520 --> 00:34:57,719 Speaker 2: policy to business investment, what's happening on the international trade landscape, 607 00:34:57,719 --> 00:35:00,960 Speaker 2: and the fact that ninety percent of trade moves on water, 608 00:35:01,520 --> 00:35:06,439 Speaker 2: and the jobs that we help create and facilitate here 609 00:35:06,600 --> 00:35:09,960 Speaker 2: in the Port complex are all things that you carry 610 00:35:10,040 --> 00:35:14,759 Speaker 2: with a great deal of respect and motivation. A lot 611 00:35:14,760 --> 00:35:18,000 Speaker 2: of decisions we make here at the port affects somebody, 612 00:35:18,040 --> 00:35:21,279 Speaker 2: and I'm very cognizant of that. So the responsibilities that 613 00:35:21,320 --> 00:35:23,960 Speaker 2: have bestowed on me now for more than a decade, 614 00:35:24,280 --> 00:35:27,399 Speaker 2: I take super seriously. But the run to work every 615 00:35:27,440 --> 00:35:29,560 Speaker 2: day is about how we can make this place better 616 00:35:29,840 --> 00:35:32,640 Speaker 2: and how we can make our colleagues reach their heights 617 00:35:32,800 --> 00:35:36,479 Speaker 2: and aspirations. So it has been the most rewarding job 618 00:35:36,600 --> 00:35:39,839 Speaker 2: I've had in my career. And there's still so much 619 00:35:39,880 --> 00:35:40,359 Speaker 2: more to do. 620 00:35:41,400 --> 00:35:43,040 Speaker 1: And I like to ask all my guests of the 621 00:35:43,080 --> 00:35:46,719 Speaker 1: Talking Transport podcast this question about a book that you 622 00:35:46,800 --> 00:35:50,160 Speaker 1: might read, whether it's about leadership or transportation that's kind 623 00:35:50,160 --> 00:35:53,160 Speaker 1: of close to your heart because a lot of listeners, 624 00:35:53,200 --> 00:35:56,360 Speaker 1: are you know, aspire to get into the industry or 625 00:35:56,440 --> 00:35:59,000 Speaker 1: learn more about the industry or just become better leaders? 626 00:36:00,040 --> 00:36:03,799 Speaker 2: Well, I spend a lot of time driving in southern California, 627 00:36:03,840 --> 00:36:08,040 Speaker 2: as you could imagine, so listening to podcasts of leaders 628 00:36:08,120 --> 00:36:12,640 Speaker 2: and their own biographical depiction of how they got where 629 00:36:12,640 --> 00:36:15,160 Speaker 2: they got and what it took, but more importantly, what 630 00:36:15,239 --> 00:36:17,359 Speaker 2: mistakes have been made along the way that they've been 631 00:36:17,400 --> 00:36:20,880 Speaker 2: able to learn from, really continues to be motivating for me. 632 00:36:21,280 --> 00:36:24,000 Speaker 2: And whether that be the book about Nick Saban, the 633 00:36:24,480 --> 00:36:27,560 Speaker 2: long standing Alabama coach who was also at Michigan State 634 00:36:27,640 --> 00:36:31,680 Speaker 2: and LSU back in my home state, to Jamie Diamond 635 00:36:31,680 --> 00:36:34,319 Speaker 2: and others in between, listening to leaders and what their 636 00:36:34,360 --> 00:36:38,040 Speaker 2: experiences have been in a small way have helped shape 637 00:36:38,080 --> 00:36:39,560 Speaker 2: what I am today as a leader. 638 00:36:40,320 --> 00:36:42,200 Speaker 1: Well, I hope while Earn Traffick or also listening to 639 00:36:42,200 --> 00:36:48,560 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Talking Transports podcasts as well, absolutely fantastic. So are 640 00:36:48,560 --> 00:36:50,600 Speaker 1: you gonna be at TPM in next month. 641 00:36:51,400 --> 00:36:53,440 Speaker 2: Yes, looking forward to it. We should have a very 642 00:36:53,480 --> 00:36:56,239 Speaker 2: good turnout and it's always a great way, whether it's 643 00:36:56,280 --> 00:36:59,319 Speaker 2: in the sessions themselves and the sidebar meetings we have 644 00:36:59,480 --> 00:37:00,560 Speaker 2: with business partners. 645 00:37:00,920 --> 00:37:02,040 Speaker 1: It sure is the. 646 00:37:01,960 --> 00:37:04,759 Speaker 2: Event to be at here in southern California. When it 647 00:37:04,800 --> 00:37:07,320 Speaker 2: comes to the trans specific maritime trade. 648 00:37:07,320 --> 00:37:10,440 Speaker 1: Well, I hope we bump into each other at the show, 649 00:37:11,200 --> 00:37:14,000 Speaker 1: count on it. That'd be greatly all right, Well, Gine, 650 00:37:14,040 --> 00:37:16,000 Speaker 1: I really want to thank you for your time and 651 00:37:16,040 --> 00:37:16,840 Speaker 1: insights today. 652 00:37:17,600 --> 00:37:19,279 Speaker 2: This has been a thrill. Keep up the good work. 653 00:37:19,400 --> 00:37:22,080 Speaker 1: Thank you all right, Thanks Gene, and I want to 654 00:37:22,080 --> 00:37:24,080 Speaker 1: thank you for tuning in. If you liked the episode, 655 00:37:24,080 --> 00:37:26,759 Speaker 1: please subscribe and leave a review. We've lined up a 656 00:37:26,800 --> 00:37:29,080 Speaker 1: number of great guests for the podcast, so please check 657 00:37:29,120 --> 00:37:33,000 Speaker 1: back to your conversations with C suite executives, shippers, regulators, 658 00:37:33,000 --> 00:37:35,880 Speaker 1: and decision makers within the freight markets. Also, if you 659 00:37:35,920 --> 00:37:38,719 Speaker 1: want to learn more about the freight transportation markets, check 660 00:37:38,760 --> 00:37:41,920 Speaker 1: out our work on the Bloomberg Terminal at BIGO or 661 00:37:42,000 --> 00:37:44,800 Speaker 1: on social media. Take care and let's keep those supply 662 00:37:44,920 --> 00:37:53,320 Speaker 1: chains moving. Thanks everyone,