Transport, trade and regulation

News and analysis of transport, trade, and regulation, including customs

The latest Transport, trade and regulation News & Analysis

ONE agrees to pay $1.7 million fine in detention/demurrage case: FMC

Teri Errico Griffis | May 19, 2023, 12:18 PM EDT

The carrier will pay the penalty to avoid the Federal Maritime Commission launching a formal investigation into whether it violated US detention and demurrage shipping laws.
Transport, trade and regulationContainer shippingContainer linesNorth American ports

House bill wants security checks of port cranes made by US ‘adversaries’

Teri Errico Griffis | May 18, 2023, 1:21 PM EDT

The bipartisan legislation does not identify specific countries that manufacture the cranes that would be subject to inspection, but a statement from the co-sponsors specifically mentions China.
Transport, trade and regulationPortsNorth American portsPort infrastructure

NITL lends support for move to give FMC oversight of rail storage fees

Teri Errico Griffis | May 17, 2023, 4:11 PM EDT

Rail storage has been at the forefront of recent regulatory discussion as the FMC solidifies its final rulemaking on detention and demurrage, with shippers wanting ocean carriers to be the billing party for such charges.
Transport, trade and regulationContainer shippingRailNorth-American rail

FLOW gains momentum with ‘give-to-get' data-sharing model

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | May 15, 2023, 2:12 PM EDT

The growth in participation in FLOW is a signal that the private sector views the voluntary nature of the project as more amenable than governmental data-sharing mandates or legislation.
Logistics technologyContainer shippingContainer linesForwardingPortsTransport, trade and regulation

FMC needs to take oversight of rail storage charges: shippers

Teri Errico Griffis | May 11, 2023, 4:07 PM EDT

Rail storage fees continue to be a point of contention for shippers and the National Shipping Advisory Committee wants the FMC to step up and take ownership.
Transport, trade and regulationContainer shippingRailNorth-American rail

ONE becomes latest carrier to drop per diem fees at closed US marine terminals

Teri Errico Griffis | May 10, 2023, 2:03 PM EDT

The change comes in advance of the FMC’s final rule on detention and demurrage billing that is due to be published in mid-June and has already generated pushback from marine terminal operators.
Container linesContainer shippingNorth American portsTransport, trade and regulation

FMC adds oversight heft by naming first director of enforcement program

Teri Errico Griffis | May 9, 2023, 1:44 PM EDT

Ex-DOJ advisor John Crews will oversee the FMC departments that investigate and prosecute a growing number of shipping complaints.
Transport, trade and regulationMaritimeContainer shipping

Evergreen pushed contracted cargo to spot market: FMC shipper complaint

Teri Errico Griffis | May 5, 2023, 3:30 PM EDT

An automotive parts importer alleges that after Evergreen failed to provide approximately 65% of contracted vessel space, it had to pay $750,000 on the spot market to secure capacity.
Transport, trade and regulationContainer shippingContainer lines

China to remain top for logistics investment despite regional sourcing shift

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent | May 5, 2023, 2:30 PM EDT

Logistics and industrial investment in the Asia-Pacific region was estimated at about $50 billion last year, down from a record $72 billion in 2021.
Transport, trade and regulationInternational portsIndustrial real estate

NY-NJ terminals alter free time tariff as FMC rule on closed gates looms

Michael Angell, Associate Editor and Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | May 5, 2023, 1:38 PM EDT

The rule changes will not have much of an initial cost impact on shippers as almost all New York-New Jersey terminals are closed on weekends and holidays, thereby not counting toward free time, and containers are now moving off the port faster.
North American portsContainer shippingTransport, trade and regulation

FMC post-OSRA complaint process secures $1 million in relief for shipping interests

Teri Errico Griffis | May 4, 2023, 4:19 PM EDT

Shippers, truckers and other transport interests have filed more than 287 complaints with the FMC since last June, mostly involving detention and demurrage billing.
Transport, trade and regulationMaritimeContainer shippingContainer lines

FMC crackdown on ocean carrier billing prompts Houston per diem change

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | May 3, 2023, 4:19 PM EDT

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 shippingTransport, trade and regulation

US shipping interests want FMC to regulate rail storage fees

Teri Errico Griffis | May 3, 2023, 3:20 PM EDT

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 regulationMaritimeContainer shippingSurfaceRailNorth-American rail

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

Teri Errico Griffis | May 1, 2023, 4:49 PM EDT

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 shippingContainer linesTrans-PacificTransport, trade and regulation

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

Teri Errico Griffis | Apr 27, 2023, 12:04 PM EDT

Funds will go to projects that focus on reducing emissions from port-related truck idling, particularly in communities adjacent to ports.
SurfaceTruckingTransport, trade and regulation

Broad reshaping of detention, demurrage billing possible in FMC rulemaking

Peter Tirschwell | Apr 27, 2023, 9:30 AM EDT

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 regulationContainer shippingContainer linesMarine terminalsNorth American ports

PSA leveraging forwarder acquisition to serve shippers directly

Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor | Apr 25, 2023, 1:44 PM EDT

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 shippingContainer linesForwardingLogistics technologyTransport, trade and regulation

New US House bill would boost FMC’s antitrust authority

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | Apr 24, 2023, 4:56 PM EDT

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 regulationContainer shipping

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

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Apr 21, 2023, 2:15 PM EDT

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 regulationContainer shippingBreakbulk shipping

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

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Apr 20, 2023, 2:21 PM EDT

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 regulationContainer shippingBreakbulk shippingSupply Chain

IANA warns against national reclassification of independent contractors

Teri Errico Griffis | Apr 19, 2023, 4:27 PM EDT

The Intermodal Association of North America is adding its voice to the chorus of opposition against a federal push to reclassify independent workers.
SurfaceTruckingTrucking laborRailTransport, trade and regulation

European Parliament approves shipping ETS, but stakeholders wary

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Apr 19, 2023, 1:16 PM EDT

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 shippingContainer linesTransport, trade and regulation

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

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Apr 14, 2023, 12:13 PM EDT

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 regulationContainer shippingContainer linesRailNorth-American rail

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

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | Apr 13, 2023, 3:54 PM EDT

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

Latest push for US shipping reform to test regulatory appetite

Peter Tirschwell | Apr 13, 2023, 9:36 AM EDT

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 regulationContainer shippingContainer linesMarine terminalsNorth American ports

Demurrage invoicing complications cloud FMC’s free time rulemaking process

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Apr 12, 2023, 2:45 PM EDT

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 regulationContainer shippingContainer linesPortsNorth American ports

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

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Apr 10, 2023, 12:31 PM EDT

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 regulationContainer shippingContainer linesPortsNorth American ports

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

Teri Errico Griffis | Apr 6, 2023, 4:01 PM EDT

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 regulationContainer shippingMarine terminalsNorth American ports

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

Lars Jensen, CEO & Partner, Vespucci Maritime, and JOC Analyst | Apr 3, 2023, 10:26 AM EDT

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 shippingContainer linesTrans-PacificTransport, trade and regulation

Cargo owners push for greater FMC regulation over rail storage fees

Teri Errico Griffis | Mar 31, 2023, 1:48 PM EDT

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 regulationContainer shippingContainer linesNorth-American rail

Regulatory disconnect impeding progress on shipping decarbonization

Peter Tirschwell | Mar 31, 2023, 8:00 AM EDT

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 shippingContainer linesTransport, trade and regulation

Terminal operators, Cosco join Saudi chemical shipper in eBL deal

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Mar 30, 2023, 3:30 PM EDT

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 technologyContainer shippingContainer linesMarine terminalsInternational portsTransport, trade and regulation

MSC joins carriers ending demurrage billing when US terminals are closed

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Mar 30, 2023, 2:37 PM EDT

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 shippingPortsNorth American portsTransport, trade and regulation

New House shipping bill garners support from stakeholders

Teri Errico Griffis | Mar 29, 2023, 11:22 AM EDT

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

Ocean carriers, marine terminals warn Congress on regulatory overreach

Teri Errico Griffis | Mar 28, 2023, 5:20 PM EDT

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

HMM joins Maersk in ending demurrage collection at closed terminals

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Mar 28, 2023, 12:10 PM EDT

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 shippingContainer linesPortsMarine terminalsNorth American portsTransport, trade and regulation

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

Teri Errico Griffis | Mar 27, 2023, 4:18 PM EDT

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 regulationContainer shippingContainer lines

German strikes over pay dispute cripple transportation network

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe | Mar 27, 2023, 11:36 AM EDT

German unions demanding inflation-busting wage increases walked off the job Monday, bringing the country’s transport system to a halt.
SurfaceForwardingRailInternational railAirportsAir cargo forwardingTransport, trade and regulation

US House duo pledge OSRA fixes to boost FMC power

Teri Errico Griffis | Mar 24, 2023, 11:09 AM EDT

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

FMC querying carriers, terminals on free time billing practices

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Mar 23, 2023, 2:44 PM EDT

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 shippingPortsNorth American portsTransport, trade and regulation