Port of Long Beach shipping means landing your cargo at one of six container terminals spread across the piers of the second big port in San Pedro Bay, next door to Los Angeles but run by a different city. Long Beach handled about 9.7 million TEU in 2024, has 80 berths across 12 piers, and sends more than a quarter of its outbound containers inland by rail. This guide covers the terminals pier by pier, the local fees and truck rules, rail, how CBP exams work here, and how we ship your cargo from Dubai. We ship both ways: from Dubai to Long Beach, and from Long Beach to Dubai with UAE clearance on arrival.
Port of Long Beach at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Owner and governance | City of Long Beach, run as its Harbor Department; policy set by a five-member Board of Harbor Commissioners |
| Founded | 24 June 1911 |
| UN/LOCODE | USLGB |
| CBP office | Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport, port code 2704, 301 E. Ocean Blvd, Long Beach |
| Size | 3,200 acres of land, 25 miles of waterfront |
| Piers and berths | 12 piers, 80 berths |
| Container terminals | Six: SSA (Pier A), Matson, LBCT (Pier E), ITS (Pier G), PCT (Pier J), TTI (Pier T) |
| Draft | More than 50 ft |
| Bridge clearance for ships | 205 ft under the Long Beach International Gateway bridge (opened 2020) |
| Containers | 9.7 million TEU in 2024; drayage firms report a record 9,881,595 TEU in 2025 |
| Cargo 2024 | 200 million metric revenue tons, about $300 billion in value, 2,000 vessel arrivals |
| Rail share | 28% of outbound containers by rail in 2024; target of at least 38% when rail works finish in 2032 |
| Local cargo fees | PierPass Traffic Mitigation Fee and Clean Truck Fund rate ($10 per TEU on nonexempt trucks) |
| Long Beach to Dubai | Shipper or its US agent files the EEI; UAE entry at Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port or Sharjah with 5% duty on CIF for most goods and 5% import VAT |
Port of Long Beach or Port of Los Angeles: are they the same?
No. The two ports sit side by side in San Pedro Bay and share a harbor, but Long Beach belongs to the City of Long Beach and Los Angeles to the City of Los Angeles. They have separate terminals, separate tariffs and separate harbor commissions. Route search sites put the two ports only about 32 km apart.
What they share matters just as much for your cargo:
- One CBP office, the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport, which handles customs for both.
- One truck registry, the Ports' Drayage Truck Registry (PDTR), and one Clean Truck Fund rate.
- One OffPeak gate program, PierPass, which covers 12 container terminals across the two ports.
- The Alameda Corridor rail line to the inland rail network.
The practical rule: give your trucker the terminal name and pier from the arrival notice, not just "LA/Long Beach". A box discharged at Pier T cannot be picked up at a Los Angeles terminal. If your cargo lands on the Los Angeles side, our Port of Los Angeles guide covers those terminals and the full ISF and entry tables.
Which container terminals does the Port of Long Beach have?
Six container terminals serve Long Beach. Each one has its own operator, sets its own gate hours and uses its own appointment system. Your carrier's service decides which terminal your box uses.
| Terminal | Pier | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| SSA Terminals | Pier A | SSA Marine runs terminal operations at Long Beach |
| Matson | Listed by drayage firms as a Long Beach terminal | Check the pier on the arrival notice |
| Long Beach Container Terminal (LBCT) | Pier E | Sold by its former owner to a consortium led by Macquarie Infrastructure Partners in 2019 |
| International Transportation Service (ITS) | Pier G | Publishes two weekday gate shifts and a Saturday shift |
| Pacific Container Terminal (PCT) | Pier J | Ask the carrier for its cut-off times at this terminal |
| Total Terminals International (TTI) | Pier T | The largest container terminal at the port, at 385 acres |
Drayage firms report that Long Beach terminals use different appointment systems, such as Voyage, eModal and Forecast, so your trucker needs an account on the right one.
Gate hours: an example from Pier G
Gate hours change by terminal and by week, so check each time. As an example, ITS at Pier G publishes these hours:
| Shift | Hours | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Weekday first shift | 07:00 to 17:00 | Grounded import delivery ends at 16:30 |
| Weekday second shift | 17:00 to 03:00 | In-gate closes at 01:30 |
| Saturday | From 07:00, gate closes 15:30 | Dual transactions may not be accepted after 15:00 |
| Sunday | Closed | Plan pickups around it |
What cargo moves through Long Beach besides containers?
Long Beach is best known for containers, but it is a mixed port. Oil was found under the port area in 1921 and 1932, and petroleum coke is one of its largest exports. Toyota's western distribution centre opened at Pier J after its 1971 expansion. For a UAE shipper, the cargo split looks like this:
| Cargo type | How it usually moves into Long Beach | What to plan |
|---|---|---|
| General goods | FCL or LCL to one of the six container terminals | ISF, customs bond, terminal appointment |
| Heavy containers (stone, tiles, metals) | FCL with overweight planning | Tri-axle chassis and permits for heavy loads |
| Chilled and frozen food | Reefer containers | FDA or USDA rules, fast pickup after release |
| Machinery and project cargo | Flat racks or open tops on container services | Lifting plan, California oversize permits |
| Dangerous goods | IMDG-declared containers with carrier acceptance | Hazmat-qualified trucker for your class |
| Dry or liquid bulk | By charter (the port exports petroleum coke, for example) | Separate vessel planning, not a liner booking |
For dry or liquid bulk parcels, our bulk cargo shipping service handles the UAE side and charter planning.
Heavy containers and chassis
Many UAE exports are heavy for their size: marble, tiles, steel products and some chemicals. Drayage firms report that a tri-axle chassis is needed for more than about 44,000 lbs of cargo in a 20ft box or 44,500 lbs in a 40ft box. Overweight moves inside the port area need city and county permits, and Caltrans permits cover state highways. Tell us the true gross weight at booking, so the US trucker can book the right chassis before the box lands.
Long Beach port fees and truck rules you will be charged for
Two local charges appear on most Long Beach import pickups. They come on top of ocean freight and terminal handling, so ask your US broker or trucker who pays them.
| Charge or rule | What it is | Amount or condition |
|---|---|---|
| PierPass Traffic Mitigation Fee (TMF) | Funds night and Saturday gate shifts (OffPeak, since 2005) | Drayage firms list $40.63 per TEU and $81.26 for larger containers, effective 1 August 2026 |
| Clean Truck Fund rate | Set by both ports in March 2020, collected since 1 April 2022 | $10 per TEU on nonexempt trucks; zero-emission trucks exempt |
| Ports' Drayage Truck Registry (PDTR) | Every truck entering a terminal must be registered | New registrations since 1 October 2018 must be model year 2014 or newer |
| TWIC card | Federal worker ID for secure port areas | Drivers generally need one |
The Clean Truck Program Terminal Access Center, shared by both ports, is at 1265 Harbor Ave in Long Beach. A practical tip: if the TMF matters for your cost, ask the trucker to pick up on an OffPeak shift where the terminal allows it.
Free time, demurrage and detention at Long Beach
Drayage firms report that import free time at Long Beach starts at 3:00 am after discharge and usually runs four to seven calendar days, and that weekends count. After that, demurrage runs while the full box stays in the terminal and detention while you keep the carrier's container outside. The carrier and terminal set the rates, so read them on the arrival notice.
Three things eat free time here: a late customs release, no appointment slot on the terminal's system, and a box that needs a special chassis. File the ISF and entry before arrival, book the appointment as soon as the box is available, and ask for extra free days on a first shipment. Our article on demurrage and detention shows how the charges build up.
Rail from Long Beach to the rest of the US
Containers leave Long Beach by train through the Alameda Corridor, which links the port to the rail yards north toward Los Angeles. In 2024, 28% of the containers leaving the port went by rail. The port is building more track to raise that to at least 38% when the work is done in 2032. The biggest project is the Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility, which drayage firms say will take rail staging from 12 to 48 tracks.
A decision rule: for Southern California, Arizona and Nevada, truck or transload near the port. For Texas, the Midwest and beyond, ask whether your carrier offers an inland rail bill of lading. Then decide with the US broker whether to clear in Long Beach or move the cargo in bond to an inland port of entry, which CBP allows under Immediate Transportation procedures.
US customs at the Port of Long Beach: what is different here
US customs rules are the same at every seaport: ISF 10+2 for ocean cargo, entry documents within 15 calendar days of arrival, the entry summary and estimated duty within 10 working days of entry, and a bond for both. CBP may issue liquidated damages of $5,000 per violation for a late, inaccurate or incomplete ISF. What is specific to Long Beach is how exams and holds are handled.
- The CBP office is the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport, port code 2704, at 301 E. Ocean Blvd in Long Beach, open Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Route data sites list Long Beach itself as Schedule D code 2709, so your broker will see both codes.
- Exams happen off terminal. CBP lists three Centralized Examination Stations for the seaport: FCL Logistics, Cal Cartage and Price Wilmington. If CBP picks your box, it is trucked from the terminal to the exam station, which adds a truck move, handling and time.
- Duty depends on the HTSUS code and origin of each product. CBP also collects a harbor maintenance fee of 0.125% of cargo value on imports at entry.
A practical rule for UAE cargo: on a first shipment of a new product, budget extra days and cost for a possible exam, and make sure the invoice, packing list and ISF match line by line.
Shipping from Dubai to Long Beach: our part and yours
We work from the UAE side. We book space with carriers from Jebel Ali or Khalifa Port, prepare and check the export documents, arrange trucking and UAE export clearance, and plan DG and out-of-gauge cargo. In the US, the importer of record or a licensed US customs broker files the entry, and we work with the consignee's broker or a clearing agent it chooses.
Route data sites show 18 carrier services calling at Long Beach in their latest schedules, with Hapag-Lloyd and Evergreen running the most sailings. Before you book, ask which transshipment hub the service uses, because transit time depends on it.
[AMIR-FACT: the carrier services we book from Jebel Ali or Khalifa Port to Long Beach, which Long Beach terminal they discharge at, and our real port-to-port transit days on this lane]
For the full lane, covering every US port and air options, see our USA route guide.
How to ship from Dubai to the Port of Long Beach: step by step
- Send us the cargo details: commodity, HS code, true gross weight, volume or dimensions, packing, cargo ready date, UAE pickup address and your Incoterm.
- Confirm the US side: importer of record, customs broker, bond, and whether the cargo clears in Long Beach or moves in bond.
- Choose a service. We compare carrier services and the Long Beach terminal each one uses.
- Book space. For DG, reefer, overweight or out-of-gauge cargo we get carrier acceptance first.
- Send ISF data to the US broker well before loading. We add the stuffing location and consolidator.
- Clear export in the UAE. We file the declaration with the invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and any permit, and gate the container in before the cut-off.
- Check the bill of lading against the invoice and ISF, then release it after sailing.
- US entry. The broker files the entry, pays duty and fees, and handles any exam at a CES.
- Pickup. A PDTR-registered trucker books the terminal appointment, pays or passes on the TMF and Clean Truck Fund rate, and returns the empty within free time.
Our guide to Incoterms 2020 for sea freight explains which of these steps you pay for under FOB, CFR, CIF and DAP.
How to ship from the Port of Long Beach to Dubai
We also handle the reverse lane: shipping from Long Beach to Dubai, with arrival at Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port or Sharjah port. We book the space with the carrier and run the UAE side. The US export filing stays with the shipper or its US agent.
The US export side
- Electronic Export Information (EEI). The US Principal Party in Interest (USPPI) or its authorized agent files it in the AES. For vessel cargo, the filing citation must reach the carrier at least 24 hours before the cargo is loaded at the US port.
- Low-value lines. EEI is generally not required where each Schedule B or HTS number is valued at $2,500 or less from one USPPI to one consignee on one vessel. The exemption has conditions, so the shipper's agent confirms it for each shipment.
- Used vehicles. For a vehicle exported by vessel, the vehicle and its documents, including the original or a certified copy of the title, must be presented to CBP at least 72 hours before export.
- Delivery to the terminal. The shipper or its trucker gates the box in at the Long Beach terminal named on the booking, inside the receiving window and before the cut-off.
The UAE import side
On arrival, the import declaration goes to Dubai Customs with the commercial invoice, the packing list, the certificate of origin and a permit from the relevant authority for restricted goods. The carrier releases the delivery order against the bill of lading. Customs duty in Dubai is 5% of the CIF value for most goods, with 50% on alcohol and 100% on cigarettes. Import VAT is 5%, and a VAT-registered importer accounts for it through the reverse charge on its VAT return.
- Send us the shipper's address in California, the cargo, the HS code and the UAE delivery address.
- We book space from Long Beach and send the booking, terminal and cut-offs to the shipper.
- The shipper or its trucker picks up the empty, loads it and returns it full to the terminal.
- The shipper or its US agent files the EEI, and presents any used vehicle to CBP 72 hours ahead.
- We check the draft bill of lading against the invoice and packing list.
- We file the UAE declaration before the vessel arrives.
- We arrange payment of the duty and VAT, and collect the delivery order from the carrier.
- We truck the container to your site and return the empty inside free time.
[AMIR-FACT: the carriers we actually use from Long Beach to Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port or Sharjah and our real transit days in this direction]
Dangerous goods and project cargo to Long Beach
For dangerous goods, the IMDG Code covers the sea leg and US hazardous materials rules cover the truck leg. You need the UN number, proper shipping name, class and packing group, a Safety Data Sheet, a signed DG declaration and UN-approved packaging, labels and placards. Each carrier also checks DG acceptance at its transshipment port, which can rule out some routings. Our dangerous goods shipping team confirms acceptance for the whole route before you book.
For project cargo, Long Beach works best when the pieces fit flat racks or open tops on a container service. For breakbulk or heavy-lift pieces, check the discharge berth with the carrier before you commit. Plan the California road permits before the cargo sails. Our heavy-lift shipping guide covers the planning on the UAE side.
Checklist before you ship to Long Beach
- Arrival notice checked for the terminal and pier, not just "Long Beach".
- Importer of record named, customs broker appointed and bond in place.
- ISF filed at least 24 hours before loading in the UAE.
- True gross weight given, and a tri-axle chassis booked if needed.
- Trucker on the PDTR, with a driver who holds a TWIC card and an account on the terminal's appointment system.
- Who pays the TMF and Clean Truck Fund rate agreed with the consignee.
- Commercial invoice, packing list and certificate of origin issued in the UAE and matching the ISF.
- Food, plant or wood packaging rules checked with the broker.
- For DG: SDS, DG declaration, packaging, labels and carrier acceptance.
- Rail or in-bond plan agreed if the cargo goes inland.
Common mistakes when shipping to Long Beach
- Sending the truck to the wrong port. Long Beach and Los Angeles terminals are separate, even though they share one harbor.
- Forgetting the local fees. The TMF and Clean Truck Fund rate are often missing from first quotes.
- Understating weight. An overweight box on the wrong chassis waits at the terminal while free time runs.
- Booking the appointment late. Slots on busy days go fast, and weekends count against free time.
- No exam budget. A CBP exam at a CES adds a truck move, handling and days.
- Late ISF. Filing after loading risks $5,000 in liquidated damages and a hold.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns and runs the Port of Long Beach?
The City of Long Beach owns it and runs it as the Harbor Department, with policy set by a five-member Board of Harbor Commissioners. Terminal operators such as SSA, LBCT, ITS, PCT and TTI run the container terminals.
How many container terminals does the Port of Long Beach have?
Six: SSA Terminals at Pier A, Matson, LBCT at Pier E, ITS at Pier G, PCT at Pier J and TTI at Pier T. TTI is the largest, at 385 acres.
What is the port code for Long Beach?
The UN/LOCODE is USLGB. Customs is handled by the CBP Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport office, port code 2704, and route data sites list Long Beach as Schedule D code 2709.
How many containers does Long Beach handle?
About 9.7 million TEU in 2024, and drayage firms report a record 9,881,595 TEU in 2025. In 2024 the port also handled about 200 million metric revenue tons of cargo worth about $300 billion.
What is the PierPass fee charged at Long Beach?
PierPass charges a Traffic Mitigation Fee on most container moves to fund night and Saturday gates. Drayage firms list it at $40.63 per TEU and $81.26 for larger containers from 1 August 2026, so confirm the current rate before you quote.
Where does CBP examine containers at Long Beach?
At Centralized Examination Stations away from the terminals. CBP lists FCL Logistics, Cal Cartage and Price Wilmington for the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport. You pay the trucking and handling for the exam.
How much free time do containers get at Long Beach?
Drayage firms report four to seven calendar days of import free time, starting at 3:00 am after discharge, with weekends counted. The exact free days come from your carrier and terminal.
How do I start shipping from Dubai to Long Beach?
Send us the cargo, the UAE pickup point and the US consignee. We book space from Jebel Ali or Khalifa Port, clear UAE export and pass the ISF data to the US broker, who files the entry in Long Beach.
Can you handle shipping from Long Beach to Dubai?
Yes. We book the space from Long Beach, the shipper or its US agent files the EEI, and we clear the cargo through UAE customs and deliver it. Most goods pay 5% duty on the CIF value plus 5% import VAT.
Can cargo from Long Beach go inland by rail?
Yes. Trains use the Alameda Corridor, and 28% of outbound containers moved by rail in 2024. The port aims for at least 38% when new rail work finishes in 2032.
Get a quote for Port of Long Beach shipping
Send us your cargo details and we will come back with sailing options and a price from the UAE to Long Beach. Use our freight rate inquiry form, or contact our team to talk through a heavy, DG or first-time US shipment. You can also read about our Dubai freight forwarding team and our sea freight service.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Port of Long Beach (governance, founding, size, piers, berths, draft, 2024 volumes, rail share, cargo history, UN/LOCODE)
- Wikipedia: Long Beach International Gateway (opening date, 205 ft ship clearance)
- CBP: Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport, port 2704 (office, hours, Centralized Examination Stations)
- Port of Los Angeles: Clean Truck Program (joint Clean Truck Fund rate, PDTR, model year rule, Terminal Access Center)
- PierPass: OffPeak program and Traffic Mitigation Fee
- International Transportation Service: Pier G gate hours
- AEEM Shipping: Port of Long Beach drayage (2025 volume, terminals, TTI acreage, TMF, free time, chassis, Pier B)
- Precision Worldwide Logistics: Long Beach terminals by pier and appointment systems
- Airlift USA: Port of Long Beach sailings and carriers (services, Schedule D code, distance to Los Angeles)
- Speed Commerce: Port of Long Beach user guide (overweight permits, Pier B rail program)
- Tonlexing: Los Angeles and Long Beach drayage (TWIC, truck registration)
- CBP: Importer Security Filing and Additional Carrier Requirements (timing, $5,000 liquidated damages)
- CBP: Importing into the United States (entry deadlines, bond, Immediate Transportation, harbor maintenance fee)
- Dubai Customs: Submit customs declaration (invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, permits)
- 15 CFR 30.4: EEI filing timeframes (24 hours before vessel loading)
- 15 CFR 30.37: EEI exemptions ($2,500 per Schedule B number)
- 19 CFR 192.2: Used vehicle exports (72 hours, title documents)
- UAE Government portal: Customs duty (5% of CIF, alcohol 50%, cigarettes 100%)
- Federal Tax Authority: VAT guide (5% import VAT, reverse charge)
Reviewed: 10 November 2026