A Traffic Mitigation Fee (TMF) in this freight context refers primarily to the fee associated with the PierPASS OffPeak program at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. It supports extended terminal gate hours and efforts to reduce truck congestion; it is not a charge imposed whenever freight encounters traffic.
How it works
A TMF may appear on an ocean freight or drayage invoice as a separate line item, depending on the service contract and billing arrangement. Program exemptions exist, so it does not apply to every container or every shipment moving through the ports.
For importers and exporters, the key point is that a TMF can affect landed cost even when ocean or inland freight rates have already been quoted. It may be passed through by a carrier, terminal operator, or logistics provider rather than absorbed in the base rate. Shippers should confirm whether the fee applies to their container and how it will be billed.
The PierPASS TMF should be distinguished from customs duties, other port charges, chassis fees, or detention and demurrage, which serve different purposes and may be billed separately. The applicable program rules and contract wording determine how the charge appears on shipment paperwork.