Does road pricing affect port freight activity: Recent evidence from the port of New York and New Jersey

In this paper, we examine the movement of container freight in, out and around the third largest maritime port in the United States and the use of toll facilities by these freight movements. Understanding how road pricing affects freight activity is of significant interest to transport planners, port operators and commercial interests with regards to regional competitiveness and economic development.

Using a unique survey of truck activity at two maritime terminals in the Port of New York and New Jersey, we examine the frequency of truck trips, toll costs and trip distance, and how these characteristics may affect port freight costs and operations by location.

Key findings indicate that while the New York ports serve 19 states and Canada, the vast bulk of cargo moves are short haul trips of less than 50 miles one way from the port facility. We also find that toll charges in the New York City metropolitan region may represent over 50% of the total costs for a short haul truck trip into or out of a maritime port depending on the location of the port facility. The results presented suggest that road toll programs can place non-trivial costs on truck trips to/from major regional freight centers.