- Freeways
- I-405, I-105, I-110
- Starts
- El Segundo, square C7
- Ends
- Torrance, square C7
- Also reaches
- Carson, Long Beach, Wilmington
South Bay and the 405: the reel pickup lane
The South Bay lane follows the San Diego Freeway (the 405) from the 105 at El Segundo south through Hawthorne and Gardena to Torrance, and comes back up the Harbor Freeway (the 110). It serves aerospace campuses, refineries, business parks and contractor yards between LAX and the Palos Verdes hills.
Where the South Bay and the 405 run goes
El Segundo, at the top of the lane, packs a refinery, the Los Angeles Air Force Base and a dense band of aerospace and technology campuses into a few square miles beside LAX. South of it the 405 passes the industrial districts of Hawthorne, Lawndale and Gardena before reaching Torrance, which has its own refinery, business parks around Del Amo Boulevard and 190th Street, and light industry around Zamperini Field.
The return leg uses the 110, which puts the east side of Torrance and Carson within a few minutes. That is why South Bay stops and ports-lane stops often end up on the same deck.
The South Bay has two refineries, a major airport, an aerospace corridor along the 405 and El Segundo's office and data buildings, all packed into a few miles between the ocean and the 110. Each of those uses specialised cable and each is wired and rewired constantly. Utility work by LADWP on the Los Angeles side and by Edison in Torrance and El Segundo adds the larger reels.
The run sheet, stop by stop
| Stop | Area | Grid | ZIP codes | Freeways | Usual flanges |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Segundo | C7 | 90245 | I-405, I-105 | 24, 30, 42, 60 in |
| 2 | Torrance | C7 | 90501, 90502, 90503, 90504, 90505 | I-405, I-110 | 24, 36, 48, 72 in |
When the deck still has room, the run also takes stops in Carson (Ports and the 710 lane), Long Beach (Ports and the 710 lane), Wilmington (Ports and the 710 lane).
Where the reels on this lane come from
- Aerospace and lab fit-outs
- Data and control cable on 24 to 36 inch plywood and nailed reels, emptied by contractors in waves.
- Refinery maintenance in El Segundo and Torrance
- Instrument and power cable on 36 to 60 inch reels during turnarounds.
- Business-park rewires
- Tenants in Torrance and Gardena empty building-wire reels during improvements.
- Utility and fibre work
- Distribution and fibre crews along the 405 corridor leave larger reels at staging yards.
What the stops on this lane put out
Reel sizes along the South Bay and the 405 lane
| Flange | Seen at | Empties per 53 ft deck (est.) | Empty weight, lb |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 in | El Segundo, Torrance | 416 | 23 to 24 |
| 30 in | El Segundo | 189 | 39 |
| 36 in | Torrance | 102 | 64 to 77 |
| 42 in | El Segundo | 60 | 90 to 100 |
| 48 in | Torrance | 26 to 30 | 106 to 177 |
| 60 in | El Segundo | 24 to 28 | 187 to 347 |
| 72 in | Torrance | 20 to 24 | 204 to 592 |
Estimates from published reel and loading charts; method on reels per load.
What the driver needs to know on this lane
The 405 through the South Bay is among the busiest freeways in the country, and the stretch between the 105 and the 110 is slow for much of the day. Stops near LAX's cargo district and the refineries have gate procedures of their own, and the driver needs the site's instructions in advance. We usually work the South Bay mid-morning, after the commuter peak and before the afternoon build-up on the 405.
Small stacks ride along
South Bay sellers usually have small reels in modest numbers, which makes most stops here ride-alongs on a run that also takes a larger load from Carson, Long Beach or Wilmington. A laydown yard full of reels after a campus job is the exception, and may need a deck of its own.
Windows and timing on this lane
The 405 is slow most of the day between the 105 and the 110. We aim to load El Segundo early, before campus deliveries peak, and Torrance mid-morning. Campus docks have strict receiving hours and badge rules; tell us both when you book.
The other lanes
Questions about the South Bay and the 405 lane
Do you collect from LAX?
Airport-side contractors and businesses just outside the airport, yes, where a flatbed can reach the reels. Airfield work is outside what we do.
Why do South Bay pickups sometimes come on the ports truck?
Because the return leg uses the 110, and the ports lane is minutes away. We put your reels on whichever run has the room.
Do you take data-cable spools?
Yes. Small plywood and nailed spools from data cable are common here and often resell to makers.
Do you collect from refinery contractors?
From their yards outside the refinery gates, yes. Inside a refinery, the operator's rules decide.
Is LAX part of the South Bay lane?
Businesses in the cargo district near the airport are, where reels can be loaded from the landside.
How do Torrance and El Segundo stops share a run?
The truck works El Segundo first, then follows the 405 or Hawthorne Boulevard south to Torrance.