Automated Gate Process

Trucks arrive at the in-gate and proceed through the inbound Portal where images are obtained for container condition and truck license plate, container number(s) and ISO code(s) are scanned. During this process the truck is also weighed, for internal equipment safety reasons.

The trucker then proceeds to a pedestal. While remaining in his vehicle, he enters his license plate number on a keyboard. The computer compares this against the portal read results, bookings, and pre-advise information.

If the container was pre-advised and the scans were succesful, no further data entry by the trucker for that container is necessary and mission tickets are printed for the delivery of that container. If there is no pre-advise information the system asks the trucker for some details. If there is no booking, the trucker is stopped and he must proceed to the gate office first. For containers to be picked up, the trucker has to enter a valid PIN number. A mission ticket per pickup container is printed.

With the mission tickets, the trucker proceeds to the seal inspection post where the seals are inspected (he remains in the vehicle). The export documents are collected from the trucker by Ceres. This stop is not necessary if he has empties-only or an empty chassis. However skipping this step while having to dropoff a full container results in a problem status which he needs to resolve at the gate office.

Arriving at the 30-lane Truck Transfer Area the truck parks in one of the lanes and swipes one of the mission tickets. Automatically straddle carriers get a command to service the truck. For his own safety, the trucker has to be outside his cabin. When a straddle carrier is close by he needs to press a button that lights a strobe, indicating to the carrier driver it is safe to proceed over the truck.

When all containers are taken off and/or placed on the truck, the trucker proceeds to the outbound seal inspection where he also receives his documents. Then he proceeds through the outbound portal where images are taken and truck license plate, container number(s) and ISO code(s) are scanned. This to ensure that the correct containers are loaded and to record the physical condition of the container.

The trucker arrives at one of the six pre-exit pedestals where he swipes one of the mission tickets. The computer checks that the status is all correct, that no customs/line/Ceres holds are present, and that the scanned container IDs match the loaded containers. If there is a problem, the gate clerk can use remote camera's to verify the truck and correct the statuses, or instruct the driver to come to the gate office. When the status is OK, interchanges are printed for each container dropped off and/or picked up.

The trucker then proceeds to the last step where he swipes one of the Interchanges at one of the 4 exit pedestals. The system again validates status and if OK raises the gate arm. The trucker then leaves the terminal.

The full gate process is equipped with clear and multi-lingual signs directing the trucker through the process.

Based on quality of the pre-advised information and traffic, the average process is completed within 35 minutes.