PierPass vs. Clean Truck Fund Fee: What's the Difference on a Port of Long Beach Drayage Quote?

PierPass and Clean Truck Fund comparison

Current rates verified as of September 2026. Rates, exemptions, and procedures can change — confirm through the applicable official system before dispatch.

What is the PierPass Traffic Mitigation Fee?

PierPass is a program operated by marine terminal operators at the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. Its Traffic Mitigation Fee funds the OffPeak program, which extends terminal gate hours into evenings and weekends. The goal is to spread container pickup and delivery activity across more hours, reducing the volume of trucks on local roads during peak daytime periods.

The TMF applies to loaded import and export container moves. According to PierPass, empty containers are exempt from the fee. Effective August 1, 2026, the rate is $40.63 per TEU and $81.26 for other container sizes.

Payment responsibility and billing treatment for the TMF vary by shipment and governing terms. Who pays — the importer, the freight forwarder, the ocean carrier, or another party — should be confirmed with the responsible shipment party before dispatch. ITZON TRANSPORT does not collect or control the PierPass TMF.

What is the Clean Truck Fund rate?

The Clean Truck Fund rate is a separate charge that supports clean-air and zero-emission truck programs at the ports. It is collected through PortCheck, an independent payment platform. The current rate is $10 per TEU and $20 for other container sizes (verified as of September 2026).

According to PortCheck, the beneficial cargo owner or its agent is responsible for paying the Clean Truck Fund rate. Drayage drivers and marine terminal operators cannot pay it. After a completed transaction, PortCheck notifies the terminal — processing time may affect when that notification is reflected in the terminal system.

PortCheck handles payment processing and terminal notification. It does not control terminal appointment systems, container availability, or other release conditions. ITZON TRANSPORT does not collect or control the Clean Truck Fund rate.

Why both charges may appear on one quote

Because PierPass and the Clean Truck Fund support different programs and are administered by different entities, they are separate line items — not a single charge listed twice. A loaded import container move at the Port of Long Beach may be subject to both.

A well-structured drayage quote should distinguish the base container transportation rate from applicable third-party fees. When comparing quotations, use the same shipment assumptions — container size, loaded or empty status, and applicable fee inclusions — so the comparison reflects the actual cost of the move. For a broader look at how port drayage pricing works, see the guide on how much port drayage costs.

Quote formats are not standardized across carriers. If a quotation does not clearly separate the base rate from applicable fees, ask the carrier to itemize the charges so you can confirm what is and is not included.

Loaded versus empty containers

The PierPass Traffic Mitigation Fee applies to loaded import and export container moves. According to PierPass, empty containers are exempt from the TMF. This distinction matters for import container moves that include an empty-container return leg — the return of the empty container to the terminal after delivery is a separate move and is not subject to the TMF under the current exemption.

For the Clean Truck Fund rate, applicable movements and exemptions should be confirmed through PortCheck and the applicable official sources. Do not assume that the same exemptions that apply to PierPass automatically apply to the Clean Truck Fund.

For a detailed explanation of how the empty-container return works after import delivery, see the guide on empty-container return.

TEU and other container sizes

TEU stands for Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit. It is the standard unit used to measure container capacity and is based on the dimensions of a standard 20-foot shipping container. A single 20-foot container equals one TEU.

For fee calculation purposes, a 20-foot container is charged at the TEU rate. Containers of other sizes — including 40-foot and 45-foot containers — are charged at the "other container sizes" rate, which is double the TEU rate for both PierPass and the Clean Truck Fund. The official PierPass and PortCheck sources use the term "all other sizes" rather than a specific container-type label, so the higher rate applies to any container that is not a 20-foot unit.

Can unpaid fees delay container pickup?

An unpaid or still-processing fee may contribute to a terminal hold that prevents pickup. For the Clean Truck Fund, PortCheck notifies the terminal after a completed transaction — processing time may affect when that notification is reflected in the terminal system, which can create a gap between payment and terminal release.

However, a container can be unavailable for many reasons that have nothing to do with port fees. Customs holds, ocean-carrier holds, terminal holds, documentation gaps, demurrage balances, and container availability status can all prevent pickup independently of whether port fees have been paid. For a full explanation of why a container may not be available, see the guide on why a container is not available for pickup.

Paying a port fee does not guarantee that a container will immediately become available or that a terminal appointment will be secured. All applicable holds and release conditions must be resolved before pickup can proceed. For practical steps to reduce the risk of charges and delays, see the guide on how to avoid demurrage and detention charges.

What to confirm before dispatch

Before scheduling container pickup, confirming the following items helps avoid delays and ensures the carrier has the information needed to coordinate the move. Providing complete and current information does not guarantee container availability or a terminal appointment.

For a full explanation of the import container move from vessel arrival through delivery, see the guide on the import container delivery process. For guidance on Last Free Day and pickup timing, see what is Last Free Day (LFD).

How these charges appear on a drayage quote

A drayage quote should distinguish the base container transportation rate from applicable third-party fees. PierPass and the Clean Truck Fund are not part of the carrier's base rate — they are port or terminal-related charges that may be passed through to the customer depending on the governing terms of the shipment.

On a quote, these charges may appear as separate line items labeled "PierPass," "TMF," "Clean Truck Fund," or "CTF." Some carriers include them in an all-in rate; others list them separately. Quote formats are not standardized, so the same move may look different on quotations from different carriers.

When comparing quotations, use the same shipment assumptions — container size, loaded or empty status, and whether applicable fees are included or excluded — so the comparison reflects the actual cost of the move. If a quotation is unclear about what is included, ask the carrier to itemize the charges before committing.

Coordinating Port of Long Beach container transportation

ITZON TRANSPORT coordinates import container drayage and Port of Long Beach container pickup to warehouses, distribution centers, and commercial receiving facilities throughout Southern California. Port fees such as PierPass and the Clean Truck Fund are third-party charges — ITZON TRANSPORT does not establish, control, or collect them, and does not guarantee that paying a fee will immediately resolve a terminal hold or secure an appointment.

To discuss a shipment or request a quote, use the form below.

Frequently asked questions