Transport, trade and regulation

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

The latest Transport, trade and regulation News & Analysis

Richard Lidinsky, ex-FMC chair and champion of shippers, dead at 76

Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor | Nov 21, 2022, 10:52 AM EST

Richard Lidinsky, a former chairman for the US Federal Maritime Commission, leaves a legacy of agency reform whose work echoes through the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022.
Transport, trade and regulation

FMC draft on exports gives carriers wide loophole: shippers

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Oct 25, 2022, 2:35 PM EDT

The FMC is attempting to define when it’s reasonable for ocean carriers to refuse export cargo, but some shippers say the agency is making it too easy for that to happen.
Transport, trade and regulation

End shipping’s EU ‘safe harbor’ block exemption: German regulator

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Oct 10, 2022, 10:52 AM EDT

The German Federal Cartel Office argues that large container carriers do not satisfy “with a sufficient degree of certainty” the conditions required for their exemption from European competition law.
Transport, trade and regulation

USDOT grants $39 million to fund port projects

JOC Staff | Oct 6, 2022, 5:19 PM EDT

Of the 12 projects the US Department of Transportation is funding, 11 will receive support for developing container-on-barge services.
Transport, trade and regulation

FMC launches study to improve US chassis pools

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Oct 4, 2022, 12:02 PM EDT

The FMC-sponsored study comes as the ultra-tight supply of chassis in the US has been a contributing factor in port and rail congestion for well over a year.
Transport, trade and regulation

Carriers call on European regulator to extend block exemption rule

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Oct 4, 2022, 11:27 AM EDT

Claims by shippers that the European block exemption was dampening market competition are “at odds with reality,” ocean carriers have told European regulators.
Transport, trade and regulationAsia-Europe

First post-OSRA shipper invoicing complaint snags Flexport

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Oct 3, 2022, 4:06 PM EDT

An Indiana-based shipper alleges it tried to resolve incomplete invoice issues directly with Flexport, but says the NVO failed to provide necessary information and withheld additional containers.
Transport, trade and regulation

FMC’s Maffei warns of increased Congressional scrutiny on IEPs, rails

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Sep 28, 2022, 2:37 PM EDT

With US maritime reform now on the books, the head of the FMC says Congress is paying close attention to the end-to-end supply chain beyond ocean carriers.
Transport, trade and regulation

FMC’s Bentzel wants agency to harmonize container tracking

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Sep 26, 2022, 1:09 PM EDT

While US ports would operate their own data system through the FMC’s Marine Transportation Data Initiative, the agency would standardize what data needs to be shared and when.
Transport, trade and regulation

MSC disputes judge’s handling of FMC complaint

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Sep 23, 2022, 2:37 PM EDT

Mediterranean Shipping Co. maintains it cannot produce discovery in an FMC complaint stemming back to July 2021 because of Swiss law and is now disputing a judge’s determination to issue default judgment.
Transport, trade and regulation

Ten more shippers pledge to use zero-carbon vessels by 2040

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Sep 22, 2022, 10:09 AM EDT

Sustainability ambitions from the world’s largest cargo owners are ramping up pressure on carriers to accelerate their transition to zero-carbon fuels or risk losing high-volume business in the coming decades.
Transport, trade and regulation

FMC investigating nearly 50 charge complaints against carriers, NVOs

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Sep 21, 2022, 4:54 PM EDT

Half of the complaints are under investigation by the FMC while the other half of submissions were denied for timing, insufficient information, or misalignment with the complaint process.
Transport, trade and regulation

FMC emergency order unnecessary despite ‘severe’ congestion: container lines

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Sep 20, 2022, 12:01 PM EDT

A majority of respondents support the FMC emergency data sharing order, but container lines and other groups believe port congestion is improving and, therefore, does constitute an "emergency."
Transport, trade and regulation

Demurrage pains show spirit of OSRA-22 not matching intent

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Sep 19, 2022, 4:02 PM EDT

A new data element mandated by the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 in June hasn’t changed the score for importers that struggle with the pressure of retrieving containers while disputing demurrage charges.
Transport, trade and regulation

FMC receives strong support for emergency order on port congestion

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Sep 16, 2022, 10:17 AM EDT

The FMC’s emergency order on data sharing would seek to alleviate port congestion by requiring more visibility into appointment availability, empty container return times, and terminal closures.
Transport, trade and regulation

Industry largely non-compliant with OSRA-22 demurrage invoice mandate

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Sep 9, 2022, 3:13 PM EDT

A mandated “container available” data element related to demurrage fees is largely not being complied with yet as the shipping industry grapples with the immediate implications of OSRA-22.
Transport, trade and regulationLogistics technologyContainer lines

Shipper seeks $600,000 from CMA CGM in latest FMC complaint

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Sep 8, 2022, 10:45 AM EDT

The complaint to the Federal Maritime Commission is the latest made by a shipper against a major carrier following OSRA-22 being signed into law in June.
Transport, trade and regulation

US extends truck driver hours exemption ahead of expected COVID surge

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Sep 1, 2022, 12:47 PM EDT

The HOS exemption has been extended five times since it was put in place in 2020 by a presidential emergency order, and it has been modified as the pandemic evolved.
Transport, trade and regulationTrucking

FMC complaint alleges Maersk failed to provide contracted vessel capacity

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Sep 1, 2022, 11:24 AM EDT

Rolled cargo complaints have come up several times this year before the FMC after heavy pandemic-induced demand in late 2020 into 2021 overwhelmed available vessel capacity.
Transport, trade and regulation

Yang Ming settles FMC complaint with importer

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Aug 23, 2022, 3:20 PM EDT

Yang Ming has been hit twice this year with complaints from importers alleging the carrier failed to honor capacity commitments.
Transport, trade and regulation

FMC seeking shipper input on OSRA-mandated ‘emergency’ review

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Aug 12, 2022, 9:50 AM EDT

While the FMC seeks input over whether to declare an emergency need for information sharing by container lines, the agency’s advisory committee has suggested setting up a parallel carrier group to improve dialogue.
Transport, trade and regulationLogistics technology

FMC begins rulemaking tied to denial of export service

Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor | Aug 4, 2022, 10:25 AM EDT

Maritime regulators are wrestling with how to refine rulemaking on when it is unreasonable for carriers to refuse export bookings, writes JOC Executive Editor Mark Szakonyi.
Container linesTransport, trade and regulation

FMC seeks ocean carrier input on export, import tonnage reporting

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Aug 3, 2022, 4:38 PM EDT

The call for export and import data comes as small- and medium-sized US agricultural exporters complain that their cargo has been largely ignored by carriers over the past three years.
Transport, trade and regulation

NITL backs proposal repealing antitrust immunity for carriers

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor; Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor | Aug 1, 2022, 5:22 PM EDT

Despite the FMC finding there was no collusion among ocean shipping alliances causing elevated freight rates, NITL believes there are still concerns about the industry that new antitrust legislation could address.
Transport, trade and regulation

FMC reorganizes enforcement duties in aftermath of OSRA-22

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Jul 29, 2022, 3:09 PM EDT

The reorganization within the FMC comes as the agency steps up its enforcement and compliance activities in the wake of US shipping reform.
Transport, trade and regulation

Shipper seeks FMC intervention after $3 million in D&D charges

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Jul 28, 2022, 4:35 PM EDT

The complaint brought by a New York-based food importer is the latest in a string of detention and demurrage cases the FMC has investigated of late.
Transport, trade and regulation

Complaints flowing in after FMC adjusts submission process

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Jul 26, 2022, 4:44 PM EDT

Ten days after the US Federal Maritime Commission told shippers they no longer need to pay a filing fee or retain a lawyer to submit a complaint, shippers have already begun taking advantage of the updated process.
Transport, trade and regulation

Trade groups demand EU review carrier anti-trust exemption

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Jul 25, 2022, 11:14 AM EDT

Pressure is mounting on European regulators to conduct a review of container shipping’s block exemption from competition law.
Transport, trade and regulation

Maersk taps startup partner to offer visibility on forced labor exposure

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Jul 14, 2022, 2:44 PM EDT

A range of US importers are at risk of violating new regulations over the involvement of forced labor in the goods they import, leading Maersk and technology vendor Altana AI to partner in a program to help shippers identify that risk.
Transport, trade and regulationLogistics technology

Shipper pushing back against ‘excessive’ fees in latest FMC complaint

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Jul 13, 2022, 10:08 AM EDT

The complaint comes one month after OSRA-22 became law, giving the FMC additional funding to hire more staff to increase monitoring of the container shipping industry.
Transport, trade and regulation

California legislators ask Gov. Newsom to exempt truckers from AB5

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Jul 11, 2022, 4:16 PM EDT

After three years of appeals failed to stop AB5, California legislators are calling on Gov. Gavin Newsom to take any action he can to further delay the worker classification law or exempt truckers from it.
Transport, trade and regulation

Hong Kong extends vessel-sharing exemption for carriers, but cuts validity period

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent | Jul 8, 2022, 3:10 PM EDT

Competition watchdogs in key Asian jurisdictions are extending antitrust exemptions for the vessel-sharing agreements of ocean carriers, but trimming the validity period of those exemptions.
Transport, trade and regulation

New House legislation would entice carriers to haul US exports

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Jun 29, 2022, 3:42 PM EDT

Hot on the heels of major shipping reform signed into law, two California Congressmen have introduced a bill that would incentivize vessels to carry US ag exports or call multiple US ports.
Transport, trade and regulation

OSRA-22 rules on detention, demurrage go into effect

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Jun 27, 2022, 3:40 PM EDT

Amid ongoing complaints that shippers can’t move cargo or return empties, new US shipping rules are enforcing when carriers can levy detention and demurrage fees.
Transport, trade and regulation

Carriers’ antitrust immunity may be next target of US shipping reform

Peter Tirschwell | Jun 21, 2022, 12:29 PM EDT

The next logical step in reforming US shipping law – the elimination of ocean carriers’ antitrust immunity – was briefly proposed earlier this year, but shot down due to its potential impact on carriers’ ability to operate within alliances.
Transport, trade and regulation

FMC ready to hit ground running on OSRA: Maffei

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | Jun 17, 2022, 10:38 AM EDT

The head of the Federal Maritime Commission said his agency is ready to enforce new US shipping reform aimed at monitoring carrier behavior around container use charges and export slots.
Transport, trade and regulation

Biden signs OSRA-22 shipping reform into law

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Jun 16, 2022, 3:51 PM EDT

The White House says US shipping reform will help corral inflation by easing port congestion and more closely monitoring ocean carriers, claims disputed by OSRA-22 opponents.
Transport, trade and regulation

US ocean shipping reform heads to Biden after House approval

Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor | Jun 13, 2022, 5:22 PM EDT

President Joe Biden has promised to sign ocean shipping reform legislation, but the bill won’t do anything to address US port and inland congestion or the record freight rates he’s railed against.
Transport, trade and regulation

Biden makes final push for OSRA as House vote nears

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Jun 10, 2022, 3:55 PM EDT

President Joe Biden visited the Port of Los Angeles to take ocean carriers to task while stumping for final Congressional approval of major US shipping law reform.
Transport, trade and regulation

FMC signaling measured approach ahead of OSRA

Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor | Jun 8, 2022, 11:39 AM EDT

US container shipping regulators are signaling measured moves aimed at providing more structure to commercial exchanges without stepping directly into them, writes JOC Executive Editor Mark Szakonyi.
Transport, trade and regulation