Transport, Trade, and Regulation News

Discover the news and analysis of supply chain strategies, sourcing and trends covered by the Journal of Commerce. Comprehensive coverage includes customs, trade news, transport news and the latest information about trade regulations. 

The latest Transport, Trade, and Regulation News News & Analysis

FMC crackdown on ocean carrier billing prompts Houston per diem change

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
The Port of Houston is changing its tariff to align with ocean carriers who are no longer charging detention and demurrage fees when terminal gates are closed, but it’s also increasing its own fees to incentivize cargo movement.
North American portsContainer Shipping NewsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

US shipping interests want FMC to regulate rail storage fees

Teri Errico Griffis |
Currently, there is no US regulatory agency with direct authority to oversee application of rail storage fees under ocean carriers’ through bills of lading and to determine whether those charges are assessed properly.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsMaritimeContainer Shipping NewsSurfaceRail NewsNorth-American rail

Bed Bath & Beyond looks to recoup millions from OOCL in FMC complaint

Teri Errico Griffis |
The now-bankrupt retailer alleges the ocean carrier failed to provide the full vessel space it contracted for, then charged much-higher premiums to ensure its cargo wasn’t rolled.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesTrans-PacificTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

USDOT opens $160 million in funding to cut emissions from port truck idling

Teri Errico Griffis |
Funds will go to projects that focus on reducing emissions from port-related truck idling, particularly in communities adjacent to ports.
SurfaceTrucking NewsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Broad reshaping of detention, demurrage billing possible in FMC rulemaking

Peter Tirschwell |
The FMC is poised to implement potentially far-reaching changes in how detention and demurrage fees are assessed, a move that could cloud how to incentivize the movement of cargo through US marine terminals.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesMarine terminalsNorth American ports

PSA leveraging forwarder acquisition to serve shippers directly

Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor |
The scale of PSA International’s ambitions to expand its reach beyond its 60 container port terminals by leveraging the acquisition of a non-asset-based global logistics provider parallels Maersk’s own integrator ambitions.
Marine terminalsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesForwardingLogistics Technology NewsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

New US House bill would boost FMC’s antitrust authority

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
The legislation would give the Federal Maritime Commission the direct ability to block carrier and terminal agreements it views as anticompetitive, without the need for a court order.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping News

Breakbulk23: BIMCO executive wants cargo data added to CII carbon ratings

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor |
BIMCO’s head of Americas called for changes to the Carbon Intensity Indicator that would make the new regulation from the International Maritime Organization “fit for purpose.”
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsBreakbulk News

Breakbulk23: Changing trade, political dynamics demand ‘new pragmatism’

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor |
An advanced sense of “pragmatism” is needed for shippers and nations to cope with changes wrought by war and climate change, attendees at the Journal of Commerce’s Breakbulk & Project Cargo Conference were told.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsBreakbulk NewsSupply chain

IANA warns against national reclassification of independent contractors

Teri Errico Griffis |
The Intermodal Association of North America is adding its voice to the chorus of opposition against a federal push to reclassify independent workers.
SurfaceTrucking NewsTrucking laborRail NewsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

European Parliament approves shipping ETS, but stakeholders wary

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor |
The inclusion of shipping in Europe’s ETS carbon pricing mechanism is almost a done deal, with legislators having one more bureaucratic hurdle left to clear.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Hapag-Lloyd files FMC complaint against CSX over rail demurrage fees

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Growing tension among shippers, ocean carriers, and logistics service providers over free time fees has ratcheted up with Hapag-Lloyd accusing subcontractor CSX of profiting from rail demurrage.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesRail NewsNorth-American rail

US ports keen on new funding, but less so on proposed reforms: AAPA

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
The main advocacy group for US ports said the step change in port funding over the coming years will mitigate future congestion and allow for better cargo flow.
North American portsMarine terminalsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Latest push for US shipping reform to test regulatory appetite

Peter Tirschwell |
The long-term impact of container shipping’s moment in the sun — and in the crosshairs of regulators — will come down to which of two starkly divergent versions of reality carries sway in Washington in the coming months.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesMarine terminalsNorth American ports

Demurrage invoicing complications cloud FMC’s free time rulemaking process

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
The assessment of storage fees inside a terminal creates competitive pressures among marine terminal operators, their container line customers, and the importers that contract with container lines.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesPort NewsNorth American ports

Hapag-Lloyd joins carriers nixing US storage fees when terminals are closed

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Looming federal rulemaking over detention and demurrage billing policy continues to compel container lines to refrain from assessing free time fees on weekends and holidays, with Hapag-Lloyd the latest to make such a change.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesPort NewsNorth American ports

Ocean carriers ‘jumping the gun’ on D&D billing changes: terminal operators

Teri Errico Griffis |
Ocean carriers are already rushing to fall in line with pending FMC rulemaking, with a string of liners announcing in recent weeks they will cease charging detention and demurrage on containers that cannot be picked up or dropped off when a terminal is closed for business.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsMarine terminalsNorth American ports

Shipping reform would not have prevented pandemic-era disruption: analyst

Lars Jensen, CEO & Partner, Vespucci Maritime, and JOC Analyst |
While it may be easy to understand the desire to fix container shipping’s perceived problems with government intervention, no amount of reform would have prevented the shortage of capacity or record freight rates during the pandemic disruption, writes analyst Lars Jensen.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesTrans-PacificTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Cargo owners push for greater FMC regulation over rail storage fees

Teri Errico Griffis |
NSAC says it supports reasonable detention and demurrage practices, but wants to correct “abuse” of the system by regulating that rail operators directly invoice ocean carriers for storage, not importers.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesNorth-American rail

Regulatory disconnect impeding progress on shipping decarbonization

Peter Tirschwell |
The pressure on regulators to put a price on carbon emissions is growing as carriers ramp up investments in zero-carbon ships, which make their brands appealing to environmentally conscious shippers but expose them to lower-cost competition.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Terminal operators, Cosco join Saudi chemical shipper in eBL deal

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Data from eBLs issued via GSBN’s infrastructure will also be used to electronically release SABIC cargo at Hutchison and PSA terminals in Asia.
Logistics Technology NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesMarine terminalsInternational portsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

MSC joins carriers ending demurrage billing when US terminals are closed

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
The fast-moving developments around changes to detention and demurrage billing are happening amid an ongoing rulemaking process by the FMC around the assessment of such charges to consignees and their drayage representatives.
Container linesContainer Shipping NewsPort NewsNorth American portsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

New House shipping bill garners support from stakeholders

Teri Errico Griffis |
The legislation aims for faster development of uniform data-sharing standards, while the co-sponsors say they were also motivated to protect US shipping interests from what they view as China’s malign influence over the supply chain.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation News

Ocean carriers, marine terminals warn Congress on regulatory overreach

Teri Errico Griffis |
The testimony comes as two House members prepare legislation designed to update OSRA-22 and another congressman restarts an effort to remove the antitrust immunity of ocean carriers.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation News

HMM joins Maersk in ending demurrage collection at closed terminals

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
HMM’s decision to immediately cease charging demurrage fees at closed terminals comes as the US Federal Maritime Commission is finalizing rulemaking around free time billing practices.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesPort NewsMarine terminalsNorth American portsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

New bill in US House seeks repeal of carriers’ antitrust immunity

Teri Errico Griffis |
The legislation also aims to provide a boost for US exporters by prioritizing getting their products into foreign markets and better defending them against container rate increases and detention and demurrage fees.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer lines

German strikes over pay dispute cripple transportation network

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
German unions demanding inflation-busting wage increases walked off the job Monday, bringing the country’s transport system to a halt.
SurfaceForwardingRail NewsInternational railAirport NewsAir Cargo Forwarder NewsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

US House duo pledge OSRA fixes to boost FMC power

Teri Errico Griffis |
US Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Daniel Maffei went before Congress Thursday to field questions about the agency’s budget, slow-going rulemaking, and whether new amendments are needed for shipping reform.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation News

FMC querying carriers, terminals on free time billing practices

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Ahead of a June deadline to issue new rulemaking on detention and demurrage billing, the Federal Maritime Commission is seeking clarity from carriers and terminals about billing shippers when container pickups and drop-offs are not possible.
Container Shipping NewsPort NewsNorth American portsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Maersk going it alone, so far, on policy changes to free time billing

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Maersk in April will stop collecting detention and demurrage fees on days terminals are closed and shippers can’t pick up or drop off containers, a move yet to be followed by competing ocean carriers.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesPort NewsNorth American portsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Proactive approach to ISPM 15 progressing despite roadblocks

Autumn Cafiero Giusti, Special Correspondent |
Breakbulk shippers and logistics providers have several proposals for changes to ISPM 15 mitigation and enforcement measures pending approval from the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
Breakbulk NewsBreakbulk portsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

New IMO rule at odds with practical realities: breakbulk executives

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift, and Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent |
Breakbulk industry executives warn new rules aimed at reducing vessel emissions could incentivize vessel operators to implement measures that increase emissions in other areas of the supply chain.
Breakbulk NewsBreakbulk carriersTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

IEPs file brief siding with ocean carriers in FMC chassis dispute

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor |
The independent equipment providers say upending the current business model would create additional chassis shortages and invoicing problems that would inconvenience cargo owners.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer linesDrayage

US draft legislation seeks to update OSRA-22, boost China scrutiny

Teri Griffis, Associate Editor |
The bill would heighten transparency into regulatory penalties levied against ocean carriers and marine terminal operators and draw a sharp line on the involvement of China-based entities in US shipping.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesPort NewsNorth American ports

Shipper group wants more FMC action on dwell fees, ERDs

Teri Errico Griffis |
An advisory group created by the FMC two years ago is pushing the agency to act on several key issues, but some members have expressed frustration over the response from regulators.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer lines

US regulators approve CP-KCS merger to form first US-Canada-Mexico rail

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor |
In approving the $31 billion merger, the Surface Transportation Board rejected arguments from the FMC and competing railroads that the deal would harm US ports and shippers.
North-American railNorth American portsSurfaceTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Wan Hai faces $950,000 fine under revised FMC settlement over detention charges

Teri Errico Griffis |
Wan Hai is now looking at a larger civil penalty than it faced nearly a year ago following an investigation into detention charges the carrier assessed in the spring of 2021.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesNorth American portsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

FMC outlines $44 million budget request to enhance market oversight

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
The Federal Maritime Commission is preparing to ask for another big increase in its budget as it looks to increase market surveillance and enforce OSRA-22.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping News

Ocean carriers on transnational regulatory defensive over antitrust immunity

Peter Tirschwell |
Stripped of antitrust protection that is under scrutiny on both sides of the Atlantic, as well as the legal certainty of being able to operate within alliances and perhaps even vessel-sharing agreements, ocean carriers could be all but forced to operate independently, writes Peter Tirschwell.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

OCEMA appeals chassis ruling to FMC commissioners

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor |
The Ocean Carrier Equipment Management Association says the FMC’s chief administrative judge erred in issuing a summary judgement against the group because key facts are still in dispute.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer linesNorth American portsTrucking News