Port of Oakland Announces

The Port of Oakland announced recently a new alliance between Northwest Container Services, Inc. (NWCS) and the City of Shafter (COS) which will result in improving the movement of goods in California. NWCS will be serving the California Integrated Logistics Center (CILC) located in and developed by the City of Shafter. The CILC would combine an Inland Intermodal Center (IIC) with dedicated rail logistics serving international marine terminals at the Port of Oakland.Wilson Lacy, Port of Oakland’s Director of Maritime, applauded the new alliance between the City of Shafter and Northwest Container Services, Inc. when he said, “This alliance is another example of how public/private partnerships can provide innovative solutions to freight transportation issues.”

According to Northwest Container Services, Inc. Chief Executive Officer Gary Cardwell, “The CILC will be a new generation of inland intermodal centers that will revolutionize a system for efficient freight movement and create the standard for future intermodal handling of international as well as domestic transportation needs within California and at other ports around the country.” The CILC will feature a rail freight intermodal facility that will support the reuse of inbound (import) containers, loaded with consumer goods destined for the Central Valley and Southern California, as outbound containers for export of agricultural goods from the U.S.

Shafter City Manager John Guinn expressed his enthusiasm for the alliance with NWCS and cited the company’s expertise, “We are very excited to see Northwest Container Services, Inc. be a major logistical partner with the City of Shafter. NWCS has proven this model of shuttle train service to be effective in the Pacific Northwest for almost 20 years between Seattle, Tacoma, and Portland. California has been experiencing unprecedented congestion problems as a result of increased trade. The CILC will give both importers and many local exporters in Central and Southern California options not previously available. The cornerstone of this type of operation is to increase efficiency and get more container loads on to railways.”

“This project will improve the flow of commerce, take trucks off the highways, and will help keep California competitive in the world market,” Director Lacy stated. In light of rail congestion in Southern California this year, he added, “The Port of Oakland has 50% of its capacity available due to the expansion of maritime facilities. As such, the Oakland seaport can serve as a relief valve for the congestion in Southern California.”

NWCS will be the intermodal facility operator for the CILC, coordinating transportation services, including all aspects of rail and truck transportation, switching of railcars, storage, handling, repair and maintenance of marine containers, chassis, and trailers of all related operations. NWCS will lead a joint intermodal service development program with the City of Shafter and will coordinate a sales and marketing staff. COS will lead the development agency, including all aspects of land and infrastructure investment at the CILC.

Northwest Container Services’ Gary Cardwell is enthusiastic about the potential benefits from the new alliance with the City of Shafter. “We’re very excited to be partnering with the City of Shafter; their proximity to the Central Valley’s exporters and future destination for importers creates the load/load transportation model we have strongly been advocating for today’s land use planners. Typically, 50% of the time an international marine container is on the highway, it’s empty. We want to work with cities, ports, and states that understand a new transportation model needs to be developed by locating importers where the exporters are. Our company’s mission is to help United States exporters reduce their transportation costs, thereby maintaining and/or improving their competitive advantage within the markets they serve.”