What do gate-in and gate-out mean?

Gate-in is the moment a truck or container is recorded entering a terminal or facility; gate-out is when it is recorded leaving. Turnaround time is measured between the two.

Do truck drivers need a TWIC card?

For unescorted access to the secure areas of US maritime facilities, yes. A new card costs $124 and is valid for five years.

What is an eGatepass in India?

The electronic gate pass customs uses to allow imported goods to physically leave the customs area, recording the manifest and bill of lading details, containers and packages.

Term

Gate pass

A gate pass is the document or digital record that lets a truck, its driver and its cargo through a facility's gate, into or out of a port terminal, depot or plant. DP World in the UAE defines its cargo gate pass as a document issued for cargo and containers to enter or exit the port and its free zone.

Also called gate-in, gate-out, cargo gate pass, gate entry pass, eGatepass, exit passUpdated 13 October 2026

What it records, by country

In India, customs issues an eGatepass to allow the physical exit of imported goods from the customs area, recording the import general manifest and bill of lading, the containers and the packages. At Rotterdam's short-sea terminals, only drivers properly prenotified through Portbase are granted access. In the US, anyone needing unescorted access to the secure areas of a maritime facility must hold a TWIC — the Transportation Worker Identification Credential — before access is granted.

Worked example: getting a container out of Jebel Ali

Online: token AED 25 + cargo gate pass AED 15 = AED 40 · over the counter: AED 55 + AED 55 = AED 110 — for the same container

DP World UAE tariff book, November 2023. A container truck also needs an RFID tag (AED 340 installed at the port) and each driver a safety induction (AED 50 a session).

In the US and UK

Where	What the driver needs	Cost
US maritime facilities	A TWIC card for unescorted access	$124 for a new card, valid five years
DP World Southampton, 2026	A vehicle booking for the slot	Free off-peak; £10.44 peak
Jebel Ali	Token, gate pass and RFID tag	AED 40–110 a container, plus the tag

The mistake people make

Treating the pass as the whole job. At Southampton, a truck that doesn't arrive within its booking time, or leaves within 60 minutes without completing its transactions, or skips the seal check, earns a £59.84 non-conformance charge — the gate pass is only as good as the slot and the paperwork behind it.

FAQ

Gate pass: common questions

What do gate-in and gate-out mean?: Gate-in is the moment a truck or container is recorded entering a terminal or facility; gate-out is when it is recorded leaving. Turnaround time is measured between the two.
Do truck drivers need a TWIC card?: For unescorted access to the secure areas of US maritime facilities, yes. A new card costs $124 and is valid for five years.
What is an eGatepass in India?: The electronic gate pass customs uses to allow imported goods to physically leave the customs area, recording the manifest and bill of lading details, containers and packages.