SINGAPORE - This June, APL’s premium Eagle Express X (EXX) service will start calling at the TraPac terminal in Los Angeles (LA). The move by APL, part of the CMA CGM Group, is set to enhance the performance of its EXX service which is synonymous with its fast 11-day ocean transit from Shanghai to Los Angeles; the promise of same-day cargo availability at the LA terminal and a white glove customer care like no other. 

“This strategic move will place us favourably for operational excellence. The TraPac terminal is ranked among the top 3 terminals with the best truck turn times in Los Angeles and Long Beach. Conveniently located for easy truck access to and from the major freeways, its location will facilitate quicker container pick-up by truckers who will gain priority access of the EXX-exclusive gates,” said Jesper Stenbak, Senior Vice President of APL’s Trans-Pacific Trade.

The TraPac terminal will be set-up to deliver same day cargo availability of EXX shipments on dedicated chassis; and enable immediate drayage of EXX RailFlash containers to an off-dock rail facility for expedited domestic transfer to Chicago, Memphis, Dallas and Kansas City. The terminal will also house an EXX-dedicated container yard that is designed for operational flexibility.

“APL has been consistently delivering above expectations with 99% of the containers on chassis and available for collection within just 12 hours of vessel discharge when the vessel arrived in LA each week. Further, we are now committing to deliver a truck turn time of 25 minutes for cargo pick-up; and 40 minutes for both cargo pick-up and equipment returns at TraPac, versus a 87-minute average recorded by the industry in Los Angeles and Long Beach. In emulating the terminal operational design that has been behind the success of the EXX service at the TraPac terminal, we will raise the benchmark that we have achieved with the premium service ahead,” elaborated Stenbak.

APL Thailand that is sailing on the EXX service will make her maiden call at the TraPac terminal on 18 June 2019. Currently, the weekly EXX service calls the ports of Ningbo, Shanghai, Los Angeles, Dutch Harbour, Yokohama and Busan. From 23 August, the EXX service will also be calling Honolulu every alternate week.