Pack n Send Blog

If you're packing goods in the Houston area, you've probably encountered information about the Port of Houston.  The Port  is one of the busiest ports in the United States, moving an incredible amount of cargo through the Gulf of Mexico every day.  But there are a few things  you might not have known before.

1. The Port of Houston introduced the use of the double-stack train in 1981.  Double-stack trains place one container on top of another, a process which has drastically reduced the cost of transportation.
2. The Port utilizes a mobile container tracking app that allows truckers to check to see whether or not a container has made it into the port and is available for pickup without coming out unnecessarily. This reduces unnecessary traffic in the area and cuts down on the number of trips truckers have to make--a win/win for everyone concerned.
3. The Port of Houston has won numerous awards for its environmental programs, which include its efforts to sustain or create more than 3,000 acres of marshland.
4. The Port facilities handle more than 36 million tons of cargo every year.  Of all the ports in the United States, the Port of Houston moves the most water-born cargo.
5. The Port of Houston was the first port in the United States to conduct emissions testing on off-road equipment, which they began in 2000.  
6. The Port is the second-largest petrochemical complex in the world.  More than 35% of the United States gas supply is refined there.
7. The Port provides around 2.1 million jobs to the area--and that's just the jobs that it provides directly.
8. In spite of its current size, the Port still has plenty of room to grow.  This attracts many shipping companies, particularly since most other US ports are unable to support such an expansion.
9. The Port makes some incredible recycling efforts each year.  In 2013, it recycled more than 37 tons of cardboard, 3 tons of plastic, and 16,371 tons of concrete, among its other recycling endeavors.
10. The Port  has always placed environmental concerns high on its list of things to consider.  In 2002, it became the first United States port to meet the internationally recognized ISO 14001 standards for excellence in its Environmental Management system--as its numerous achievements attest.  

Looking into shipping out of the Houston area?  Contact us to see how we can help.