San Pedro Bay Ports Container Dwell Times for March 2026

April 20, 2026

Contact: Natasha Villa, External Affairs Manger

nvilla@pmsaship.com | (562) 241-0433

Container dwell times at the San Pedro Bay Port Complex continued to reflect strong operational performance in March 2026, with fluid gate operations and improved rail metrics demonstrating the sustained efficiency of the nation's busiest port gateway. Cargo throughput was steady at 1.53 million TEUs in March 2026 compared to 1.59 million TEUs in February 2026.

Cargo destined for local delivery via truck averaged 2.61 days at marine terminals in March 2026, essentially unchanged from February 2026's 2.55 days and slightly below the 2.77 days recorded in March 2025. Truck dwell has now remained under the three-day mark for 14 consecutive months, reflecting consistently fluid gate operations across the complex and availability in the drayage fleet.

Rail-destined containers showed meaningful improvement, averaging 4.41 days in March 2026, down from 5.10 days in February and significantly below the 6.75 days recorded in March 2025. The year-over-year gain of more than two full days underscores the strong performance of the on-dock rail system at San Pedro Bay.

"March's numbers tell a consistent story. Gates are running smoothly, rail is outperforming last year by a significant margin, and the complex continues to deliver the kind of reliable throughput that shippers depend on. Fourteen straight months under the three-day truck dwell threshold reflects real, sustained coordination across all stakeholders at San Pedro Bay," said Natasha Villa, External Affairs Manager of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA).

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About the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA)

PMSA is an independent, not-for-profit association which represents owners and operators of marine terminals, ocean carriers, and vessels operating on the US West Coast. PMSA maintains offices in Oakland, Long Beach, and Seattle.