What Is the Alameda Corridor Surcharge (ACS)?

The Alameda Corridor Surcharge (ACS) is a fee applied to containerized cargo moving through the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach in California. It covers the cost of using the Alameda Corridor, a 20-mile freight rail expressway that connects these two major seaports to the transcontinental rail network near downtown Los Angeles.

Background: What Is the Alameda Corridor?

The Alameda Corridor was built to streamline cargo movement from the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach—two of the busiest gateways for imports from Asia, especially China—to inland distribution hubs across North America.

Before the corridor was built, trains had to use multiple street-level crossings, creating congestion and inefficiency. The Alameda Corridor consolidated rail lines into a high-capacity, grade-separated route, reducing transit time and emissions.

To fund the construction and maintenance of this infrastructure, the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority (ACTA) introduced a user fee known as the Alameda Corridor Surcharge.

How the Alameda Corridor Surcharge (ACS) Works

• Who Pays It:
  The ACS is charged to rail carriers (and ultimately passed on to shippers or importers) for containers transported via the Alameda Corridor.

• When It Applies:
  The surcharge applies to import and export containers that move by rail between the Ports of Los Angeles/Long Beach and inland rail yards (such as those in Los Angeles, Chicago, or Dallas).

• Current Fee (Typical Range):
  Around $25 to $35 per container (exact rates vary by rail carrier and container type).

• Collection:
  The surcharge is included as a line item on freight invoices under “ACS”, “Alameda Corridor Fee”, or “ACTA Surcharge.”

Why the ACS Matters in Freight Costs

1. Part of Landed Cost
   Importers need to account for ACS when calculating total inland transportation costs from the U.S. West Coast.

2. Mandatory for Rail Shipments
   Any intermodal shipment that utilizes the Alameda Corridor automatically incurs the fee—there’s no alternative rail route without it.

3. Infrastructure Sustainability
   The surcharge funds corridor maintenance and debt repayment, ensuring long-term operational efficiency for port-to-rail transport.

Who Is Affected

• Importers/Exporters: Particularly those moving containers via Los Angeles or Long Beach to inland destinations.

• Freight Forwarders and NVOCCs: Must include ACS in rate quotations for accurate pricing.

• Rail Carriers (BNSF, Union Pacific): They collect and remit the fees to the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority.

Key Takeaway

The Alameda Corridor Surcharge (ACS) is a mandatory infrastructure fee that supports one of the most critical freight routes in the U.S. supply chain. While it adds a modest cost per container, it enables faster, safer, and more sustainable cargo movement between West Coast ports and the U.S. interior—making it an essential part of international logistics planning.