By Lisa Baertlein

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Union Pacific Corp (NYSE 🙂 is one of two railroads that transport cargo from Long Beach and Los Angeles seaports. However, it handled only a few more containers once its cargo terminal was switched to 24/7.

Intermodal Container Transfer Facility, (ICTF), was extended by the railroad last week to add approximately 20 hours on Sunday and Monday. This allowed the facility to be open 24 hours a day. This move was in support of the Biden Administration’s plans to reduce congestion at Southern California ports, which process approximately 40% of all container cargo entering the United States.

It hasn’t yet made much of a dent.

Fritz stated in Zoom that he has seen “four dozen” incremental intermodal domestic loads pass through. It helps, it’ll stay open 24/7 if it has to.

According to Union Pacific executives, and other logistic experts, a lack of warehouse space as well as long-haul trucks and ports are hindering the ability to meet the increased cargo volume to the United States. This is where avid buyers have been purchasing more goods due to the pandemic-related restrictions on travel.

Union Pacific Thursday reported that its third quarter volume in its intermodal business suffered a 6 percent drop. The company handles freight by three or more transportation modes. Fritz explained to analysts that the drop in volume was caused by a shortage of truckers who could support operations.