News / West Coast port row over booking systems threatens supply chain efficiency

Dreamstime

US West Coast supply chains risk losing efficiency amid a growing dispute over container appointment systems at key ports.

Under the West Coast MTO Agreement (WCMTOA), truckers in San Pedro Bay are legally required to book appointments to pick up and return containers. But the systems enabling those bookings – chosen by terminal operators – are increasingly under scrutiny.

Options are limited. Advent eModal dominates the market, used by six of 11 terminals in Los Angeles/Long Beach, all three in Oakland, and all five in Seattle-Tacoma.

“As a trucking company, you don’t have a choice – and frankly, neither do the terminals,” one source said. “eModal is almost the only off-the-shelf system available.”

While appointment systems have helped ease congestion and improve turn times, they have also created a significant administrative burden. Truckers must juggle multiple platforms – five across 11 terminals in San Pedro Bay alone – with slots released unpredictably, including nights and weekends.

That inefficiency has fuelled demand for third-party software that aggregates appointment systems into a single interface, allowing carriers to monitor availability, automate bookings and integrate directly with transport management systems.

Former Harbour Trucking Association (HTA) CEO Matt Schrap previously told The Loadstar: “You’re operating across several different platforms, not only in the port ecosystem but within your own company.

“You deal with availability from the carrier or terminal, then find an appointment, then interface with dispatch software just to get a truck out the gate.

“To have a person doing that doesn’t make sense when software exists. It’s about efficiency.”

But those efficiency gains are now under threat.

In an open letter to the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), the HTA said that for nearly a year Advent eModal had been “attempting to block motor carrier-directed third-party access” to its systems.

According to the letter, eModal warned more than 50 carriers their access could be revoked if they continued using third-party tools – effectively preventing them from making appointments at all.

At the heart of the dispute are eModal’s terms of service, which prohibit sharing login credentials. Yet third-party platforms rely on that access to automate bookings, leaving carriers caught between compliance and efficiency.

“Truckers are legally mandated to use these systems – their businesses can’t function without them,” one source said. “This is effectively a private company saying you can’t use third-party tools on something regulation forces you to use.”

Critics also point to eModal’s own paid ‘Envio 360’ service, which offers preferential access to scarce ‘empty-in’ appointments.

“One of the biggest complaints across terminals, truckers and shipping lines is the lack of empty-in appointments,” a source said. “We often don’t know where empties will be accepted, and slots disappear within seconds. That only happens at eModal terminals.”

CargoSprint, which acquired Advent eModal in 2024, rejects suggestions it is restricting access unfairly.

CEO Caro Krissman told The Loadstar the company’s priority was “stable, fair and reliable software”, adding that the acquisition had been followed by increased investment in trucker experience and system reliability.

He also defended CargoSprint’s purchase of DrayDog – a third-party tool widely used by carriers and cited in the HTA complaint.

“DrayDog built a product relied on daily by hundreds of the largest motor carriers in San Pedro Bay,” he said. “We acquired it because it was valuable and wanted to improve it – not remove it from the market. The product and team are active and growing.”

Mr Krissman added that CargoSprint’s understanding of port operations had “deepened significantly” since the acquisition, prompting broader investment in capabilities.

However, The Loadstar understands there has been no material change to appointment booking processes or third-party access since the HTA’s letter was sent to the FMC in February 2025.

The association warned: “eModal’s actions could hinder operational efficiency, stifle innovation and disrupt the free flow of goods.

“Third-party software has alleviated many challenges for motor carriers, improving scheduling, reducing errors and enhancing efficiency.

“Blocking access creates significant operational challenges and discourages innovation.”

It urged the FMC to intervene to ensure “fair, reasonable and equal access” to appointment systems – a move it argues is essential to maintaining a competitive and efficient supply chain.