The capacity of container ships handled in the port of Hamburg has been steadily increasing in recent years. The more cargo a ship transports, the more truck calls need to be coordinated at the terminal. To improve advance planning in the increased volume in traffic and to avoid bottlenecks in handling, slot booking was introduced in the Port of Hamburg in 2017. By allocating time slots, terminals avoid traffic peaks and can distribute the arrival of trucks more evenly throughout the day.

The use of the platform is compulsory for all container pick-ups and deliveries at the HHLA and Eurogate container terminals, as well as at three additional container depots and the veterinary and import offices. Approximately 10,000 truck movements are coordinated daily. Thus, traffic jams at the entrances to the terminals are largely a thing of the past in Hamburg.

Slot booking is also ideal for seaports, inland ports and multi-modal terminals.