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Gov. Greg Abbott has extended a waiver for another 30 days on the number of federally regulated hours that truck drivers can work around Houston in an effort to keep cargo moving through the Port of Houston that has seen record-setting cargo volume, according to the State of the Port Address delivered by Chairman Ric Campo.
Abbott’s efforts are needed to increase flow as the large volume has inundated the port causing a slow progression.
"Lead, follow or get out of the way – that's how Houston gets it done," Campo said.
The port is currently working on a billion-dollar expansion to widen the Houston Ship Channel to handle more traffic.
"This is the fastest a project of this magnitude has ever moved in America, and it's because of the people and partners who are getting it done, by working and doing the heavy lifting together,” Campo said during his State of the Port Address.
A faster return of chassis is needed to help with the flow.
“One persistent issue is the fact that dwell or the amount of time customers hold onto our chassis remains at historically high levels so we are urging customers to return assets quickly to improve availability,” the DCLI said.
Ranked as the No. 1 busiest port in the nation and known as the "Energy Capital of the World," the Port of Houston's success can be attributed to a diversity of cargoes and balance of imports and exports, Chairman Campo said.