Trailer Bridge, Ports America sign 10-year Jacksonville

Trailer Bridge and terminal operator Ports America have signed a 10-year agreement for stevedoring and terminal technology services. The partnership covers Trailer Bridge's Jones Act barge operations between Jacksonville, Florida, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Under the new deal, Ports America takes over cargo handling at Trailer Bridge's Blount Island terminal within the Jacksonville Port Authority (Jaxport). The agreement also mandates the implementation of Ports America's Dockworks terminal operating system. This long-term arrangement includes two optional five-year extensions, creating a potential 20-year operational framework.

Consolidating Terminal Operations

Ports America will provide all stevedoring labor and terminal management expertise for Trailer Bridge in Jacksonville. This consolidates cargo-handling functions under a single North American terminal operator. Ports America has specific experience in roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro), breakbulk, and Jones Act trades. The partnership is designed to stabilize operations on one of the busiest Jones Act routes by linking physical terminal handling to a modern software platform.

Technology Rollout and Goals

A key component is the rollout of the Dockworks terminal operating system at the Jacksonville facility. Customer-facing visibility tools from this system are expected to launch in 2027. The technology investment aims to give shippers better real-time tracking for trailer and container movements along the Jacksonville-San Juan trade lane. The partners expect the shared platform to reduce operational handoffs, improve equipment utilization, and create a more predictable service profile for shippers.

Strategic Impact on the Trade Lane

The agreement reinforces Jacksonville's position as a primary mainland gateway for freight bound for Puerto Rico. It provides the port with a long-term, technology-enabled framework for a major Jones Act carrier. Ports America stated the partnership extends its footprint in Jones Act cargo handling and supports efforts to improve reliability and transparency on the Puerto Rico trade. Trailer Bridge operates an asset-light model focused on domestic ocean service to Puerto Rico, alongside international freight forwarding and U.S. Government logistics.

The source report, by Stuart Chirls for FreightWaves, noted that in a separate development this past July, carriers Zim and Mediterranean Shipping Co. Made their first call at Jacksonville as part of a new container service linking Asia with Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean.