From the Wall Street Journal:

Terminal operators at the Port of Oakland plan to start charging trucking companies to move containers during peak times in an attempt to alleviate congestion.

The proposal, which federal regulators are currently evaluating, is facing criticism from large retailers, farmers and other companies that rely on the port for imports and exports and could end up paying millions of dollars to move cargo. Port officials say the fees are necessary to reduce traffic during the busiest periods and to pay for new Saturday service at container terminals.

An industry group representing large retailers, which are among the port’s biggest customers, said in a letter to the Federal Maritime Commission that it was “troubled” because terminal operators haven’t made details of the program public. The fees will go into effect on Sept. 7 unless the FMC FMC -2.26 % requests more information, which would extend the evaluation period.

Terminal operators will publish details on the plan in the next few days, said John Cushing, who runs PierPass and is leading Oakland’s OAKPASS program. The fee for each 20-foot container has been set at $17, and $34 for 40-foot containers, Mr. Cushing said. Oakland handled the equivalent of 1.8 million 20-foot containers last year, though many were transported by rail, where the fees would not apply.

More at the Wall Street Journal