Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) celebrated National Truck Driver Appreciation Week by hosting events at its facilities and thanking drivers for their reliable and efficient services that are vital to the port's success.
Appreciation Activities and Services for Drivers
Georgia Ports employees distributed Chick-Fil-A chicken biscuits, cooling towels, and aluminum water bottles at the truck gates of their terminals, including the ports of Savannah and Brunswick, as well as at inland terminals in Bainbridge, Chatsworth, and Gainesville.
According to Keon Price, President of Georgia Ports, "Truck drivers are a key link in the global supply chain, especially in Savannah. Nearly 80 percent of our container trade is moved by truck."
Savannah Port Performance and Truck Turn Times
Savannah Port manages 15,000 truck movements daily from 4 AM to 6 PM, Monday through Friday, including both import and export containers. GPA's terminal efficiency allows truckers to turn between 6 to 8 times a day and still return home for dinner.
In August, GPA recorded average truck turn times of just 34 minutes for moving a container and 43 minutes for truckers delivering an export container and picking up an import container. Nearly 80 percent of truck transactions at Savannah Port involve such dual movements, helping to reduce the total distance trucks travel each day.
Safety and Efficiency Initiatives for Truck Drivers
The Garden City terminal at Savannah Port offers three truck gate options to expedite drivers' passage through the terminal's 50 truck lanes. Upon entering the terminal, chokepoints at major intersections are designed to allow trucks to move quickly and safely, reducing idle time. Drivers needing an empty chassis had an average of over 1,700 chassis to choose from daily in August at the Garden City terminal.
To ensure a positive experience for drivers at the terminal, GPA has implemented several initiatives to make port visits safer and more efficient. The GPA Truck Safety Committee has focused on enhancing communications and addressing driver concerns, helping them operate more safely in the terminal.
The GPA Truck Safety Committee includes terminal and transportation managers from large and medium-sized companies and has a rotating system to include feedback from smaller firms.
Utilizing Innovative Technologies at the Port
GPA is recognized as a leader in the port industry with the introduction of facial recognition technology at the Garden City terminal gates in June 2026. This technology speeds up truck processing times and allows GPA to comply with federal security standards. Registered drivers no longer need to stop and present transportation worker identification credentials.
Price noted, "This is another way to provide a seamless experience for truckers while maintaining security. Every minute we save for truckers means freight gets to its destination faster."
The GPA Trucker app allows drivers to see the locations of containers within the port and navigate easily. This app also provides real-time notifications about gate hours, weather conditions, and container transaction updates.
