10-year deal locks in Puerto Rico’s lifeline: 85% of its goods now tracked
Trailer Bridge and Ports America sign a 20-year stevedoring and tech pact for Jacksonville’s Blount Island terminal.
Jacksonville’s Blount Island terminal has become the digital nerve centre for Puerto Rico’s supply chain after Trailer Bridge and Ports America signed a 10-year stevedoring and technology deal that could stretch to 20 years.
Under the pact, Ports America will provide stevedoring labour and terminal expertise for Trailer Bridge’s Jones Act barge service between Jacksonville and San Juan. The partnership consolidates cargo-handling functions under a single operator with experience in roll-on, roll-off, breakbulk, and Jones Act trades.
Technology rollout to give shippers real-time visibility by 2027
The centrepiece of the agreement is the deployment of Ports America’s Dockworks terminal operating system. Customer-facing visibility tools are slated to go live in 2027, offering shippers real-time information on trailer and container movements along the Jacksonville-San Juan corridor. The technology investment aims to reduce handoffs, improve equipment utilisation, and create a more predictable service profile for businesses reliant on the route.
Royal Caribbean
The system has been deployed across multiple North American terminals, including those handling container, ro-ro, and military cargo.
David Eckles, vice president, Gulf & South Atlantic at Ports America, framed the deal as a step-change in terminal operations.
“This partnership is about bringing the full breadth of Ports America’s capabilities to the table, including our people, technology and decades of terminal operating expertise. Together with Trailer Bridge, we have an opportunity to enhance how cargo moves through the Jacksonville terminal while using technology to create greater connectivity and visibility across its broader operation.”
David Eckles·Vice President, Gulf & South Atlantic, Ports America
Mitch Luciano, CEO of Trailer Bridge, echoed the focus on customer experience.
“We are looking at every part of our Puerto Rico service and investing in the areas that will make us stronger for our customers. That includes our vessels, our people, our operational partners and the technology that connects it all. Our partnership with Ports America is another important step in that strategy, giving us the tools and operational support to deliver a better experience for our customers.”
Mitch Luciano·CEO, Trailer Bridge
Jacksonville cements role as Puerto Rico’s primary mainland gateway
The agreement reinforces Jacksonville’s position as the dominant U.S. mainland hub for Puerto Rico-bound freight. The partnership arrives as Jacksonville expands its container services, with Zim and Mediterranean Shipping Co. making their first call at the port in July as part of the new ZCP-Amberjack service linking Asia to Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean.
The port’s Blount Island terminal, where Trailer Bridge operates, is a key asset, offering direct access to interstate highways and rail connections.
For shippers and logistics providers, the Ports America-Trailer Bridge partnership introduces a new layer of operational stability. The 10-year agreement, with options to extend to 20 years, provides long-term certainty for businesses planning supply-chain strategies. The integration of Dockworks will also allow shippers to monitor cargo movements in real time, reducing delays and improving inventory management. This is particularly critical for time-sensitive goods, such as perishable foodstuffs and medical supplies, which dominate the trade flow between Jacksonville and San Juan.
Ports America, which operates terminals across North America, said the deal extends its footprint in Jones Act cargo handling. The operator’s portfolio includes container, roll-on, roll-off, vehicle, military, and cruise terminals, giving it the scale to support Trailer Bridge’s asset-light model. For Trailer Bridge, the agreement follows a $9 million investment in 2026 for scheduled dry dock work across its roll-on, roll-off fleet and a realignment of its executive leadership to focus on asset-based operations and customer-facing functions.
The Jones Act, which requires that cargo transported between U.S. ports be carried on U.S.-built, -owned, and -crewed vessels, has long shaped the dynamics of the Puerto Rico trade. Jacksonville’s dominance in this market is partly due to its ability to offer efficient, compliant services under the Act. The Ports America-Trailer Bridge partnership further strengthens this position by combining operational expertise with advanced technology, ensuring that Jacksonville remains the most reliable and cost-effective gateway for Puerto Rico-bound freight.
The long-term horizon of the deal is designed to stabilise operations on one of the most active Jones Act routes. By tying physical terminal handling to a modern terminal system, the partners aim to address persistent challenges in cargo tracking and supply-chain transparency, which have been pain points for shippers in the Puerto Rico trade. With customer-facing tools expected to launch in 2027, the agreement sets the stage for a more connected and predictable service profile, one that could redefine reliability standards for the U.S.-Puerto Rico lane.
The Ports America-Trailer Bridge agreement is more than a terminal services contract, it is a strategic move to modernise one of the most critical trade lanes in the U.S. domestic maritime sector. For shippers, the integration of Dockworks will provide unprecedented visibility into cargo movements, allowing businesses to plan inventories with greater precision. This is particularly valuable for retailers, manufacturers, and distributors in Puerto Rico, where supply-chain disruptions can have immediate economic consequences.
The partnership also signals a broader trend in the maritime industry: the increasing reliance on technology to enhance operational efficiency. As global supply chains face pressure from geopolitical tensions, climate-related disruptions, and shifting trade patterns, digital tools like Dockworks are becoming essential for maintaining resilience. The Jacksonville-San Juan route, which handles a significant portion of Puerto Rico’s imports, stands to benefit from this shift, offering shippers a more reliable and transparent alternative to other trade lanes.
For the broader market, the deal underscores Jacksonville’s growing importance as a logistics hub. The port’s expansion into container services, exemplified by the recent ZCP-Amberjack service, positions it as a key player in transshipment routes between Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The Ports America-Trailer Bridge partnership further cements this role by ensuring that the port’s infrastructure and technology keep pace with growing demand.
Looking ahead, shippers and logistics providers can expect further enhancements to the Jacksonville-San Juan route. The rollout of customer-facing visibility tools in 2027 will be a critical milestone, offering real-time tracking and data analytics to support decision-making.
For those seeking more information, updates on the partnership and its impact on the Jacksonville-San Juan route can be found on the official websites of Jaxport, Trailer Bridge, and Ports America. These platforms will provide the latest details on service enhancements, technology rollouts, and operational developments.
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