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Motor Carrier News

06 May 2020

Will FMC's New Demurrage & Detention Rules Aid NVOCCs?

© Mihai Andritoiu / Adobe Stock

On April 28, 2020, the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) released the long-awaited interpretive rules in Docket No. 19-05 relating to how ocean common carriers may lawfully apply demurrage and detention charges to exporters, importers and ocean transportation intermediaries, including Customs brokers in certain circumstances and still be compliant with the “reasonableness” requirement of 46 U.S.C § 41102(c). The analyses and guidance in the interpretive rules have been in high…

17 Mar 2020

COVID-19 and Supply Chain Implications for Ocean Shipping

© hanohiki / Adobe Stock

Only 10 days ago, reports indicated that China cargoes were returning to pre-coronavirus levels, and there appeared to be light at the end of the tunnel. Today, however, a barrage of new headlines has underscored the impact on the rapidly changing global supply chain, including in the United States. In addition to the aggressive spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), new economic developments indicate a decreased trend in global manufacturing. Changes in local economies negatively impacting employees reflect corresponding changes in consumer buying patterns.

02 Mar 2018

Virginia Port Launches Truck Reservation System

Following more than two years of collaborative development with the local motor carrier community, The Port of Virginia today is its trucker reservation system (TRS) to begin the effort of managing the flow of truck volume at the port. “This is a twenty-first century tool that holds benefits for motor carriers, cargo owners, logistics companies and our terminal operations team,” said John F. Reinhart, the CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. The port said it is committed to a phased roll-out of TRS. In this initial phase, motor carriers calling Norfolk International Terminals (NIT) between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m., Monday through Friday, must have a reservation. Additional mandatory hours are planned as the TRS gains a firm footing in the trucking community.

02 Nov 2017

ContainerPort President and Co-Founder Russel A. Graef Passed Away

ContainerPort Group, Inc. announced today that its President and long-time company veteran, Russel A. Graef, passed away on October 26, 2017. It is with great sorrow that we share the loss of one of the intermodal industry’s founders, pioneers and collaborators. Since CPG’s founding in 1971, Graef held executive positions in all divisions of the business, including terminal operations, sales, logistics, fleet safety, trucking, depot/CY and M&R operations. Fred Hunger, CEO of World Shipping, CPG’s parent company says, “Russ was a true company man focused on ContainerPort Group’s mission: To become intermodal’s best by achieving excellence in all we do.

12 Jan 2017

Virginia Port Hits Record Volume at 65 mi TEUs

The Port of Virginia set a new annual record for container cargo volume having handled more than 2.65 million twenty-foot equivalent units, or TEUs, a 4.2 percent increase over last year’s total. In 2016, import and export volumes were up 6 percent and 2.6 percent, respectively, over the prior year. The port saw increases in TEUs, rail volume and total volume at Virginia Inland Port, the port’s growing intermodal ramp located in Front Royal. Further, Richmond Marine Terminal (RMT) had its most productive year since The Port of Virginia began leasing the facility in 2010. “In 2016, we moved 106,000 more TEUs than we did in 2015, which until now, was our highest volume year on record,” said John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority.

15 Nov 2016

Fatal 'Duck Boat' Crash Blamed on Mechanical Failure -NTSB

A failed front axle on an amphibious "duck boat" led to a deadly Seattle collision between the vehicle and a charter bus that killed five international students, the National Transportation Safety Board found on Tuesday. The September 2015 incident on the city's busy Aurora Bridge increased scrutiny of the boat-buses, which have been involved in several deadly crashes in recent years. The NTSB said the front axle failure resulted from a manufacturing error by the company that built the vehicle, Ride the Ducks International Inc. The board also faulted the tour company, Ride the Ducks of Seattle, for not ensuring proper maintenance. "The chain of events leading to this crash began years before the crash," NTSB Chairman Christopher Hart said at a board meeting.

22 Sep 2016

Port of Va. Signs Long Lease for International Gateway

Governor Terry R. McAuliffe on Wednesday announced that The Port of Virginia has signed a new, long-term lease for Virginia International Gateway (VIG) that clears the way for the port to begin work on doubling capacity at the deep-water container terminal. “This is an historic event for The Port of Virginia,” Gov. McAuliffe said. The new lease, which was negotiated during a two-year period, will give the port oversight of and operating rights at the terminal until 2065. Further, the lease allows the port to begin work on a $320 million project to build the terminal’s second phase; construction will begin this year. The lease is between the Virginia Port Authority (VPA) and Virginia International Gateway Inc.…

03 Sep 2016

Virginia Port Update on Handling of Hanjin, CKYHE Cargo

In light of the recent bankruptcy filing by Hanjin Shipping, The Port of Virginia has updated its policies and processes regarding the movement and loading of Hanjin vessels and containers. The following policy is effective as of Sept. Line onto a Hanjin vessel. Line vessels. These restrictions were requested by Cosco Container Lines, "K" Line, Yang Ming Line and Evergreen Line, which with Hanjin, compose the CKYHE shipping alliance. After careful consideration, the port agreed today to comply with the request. Beginning Aug. 31, 2016, the port enacted its own restrictions regarding the movement of Hanjin freight. • Not accepting any Hanjin containers for export at any of the port’s marine or intermodal terminals.

16 Nov 2015

Columbia Group Opens NJ Intermodal Depot

The Columbia Group of Companies will open a new intermodal chassis depot located in Bayonne, NJ on November 16, 2015. Trac Intermodal will be the first customer to join the depot. Columbia Group, through its affiliates Columbia Container Services and Columbia Intermodal, already operate a first-class off-dock empty container depot and chassis maintenance and repair depot in the Port of New York/New Jersey and a chassis pool and container repair operation in the Port of Boston. Fenimore says that the new depot will be open to all chassis owners and its being developed to provide quality customer service to motor carriers. “The motor carrier community and chassis providers in the Port of New York and New Jersey want an adequate supply of available chassis…

22 Jul 2015

Port Infrastructure Projects Underway in Virginia

U.S. U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx today joined Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, and other Federal, state and local officials to break ground on two major infrastructure projects at the Port of Virginia. Supported by nearly $200 million in federal funding, the projects will relieve congestion and delays at the port terminals and naval base, while reducing harmful emissions and increasing safety in adjacent neighborhoods. “Ports like this one show us that having a first-class transportation system can attract first-class jobs and enable American businesses to ship goods all across the world,” said Secretary Foxx. The I-564 Connector Project…

04 Jun 2015

Mobile App Aims to Boost LA’s Port Efficiency

Image: Port of Los Angeles

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti today announced that Cargomatic, a Los Angeles-based, privately-owned technology company that matches trucking capacity with shipments, is testing its mobile app to speed up the flow of containerized cargo at the Port of Los Angeles (POLA). Cargomatic has developed a peel-off shipping concept that it calls the “Cargomatic Free Flow” program, a web-based solution that optimizes container moves for cargo owners, terminals, and trucking companies. Testing began in early January and preliminary results are encouraging, POLA said.

13 Nov 2014

FMC Commissioner Doyle Weighs In

FMC Commissioner William P. Doyle

Commissioner William P. Doyle's remarks at the Commission Briefing on Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Port Congestion Forum, November 13 2014 in Baltimore, MD. On October 1, 2014, Commissioner Lidinsky and I hosted the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Port Congestion Forum at the World Trade Center in Baltimore, Maryland. I want to thank all the FMC staff for their participation in setting up and managing the day’s event. David Tubman and Jewel Jennings-Wright worked tirelessly for weeks helping to locate attendees and participants. Thank you both.

31 Oct 2014

Southern California Port Congestion

Hapag-Lloyd informs about the congestion at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach that has reached a critical point. I. Several container ships are anchoring off the harbor and waiting in line to berth. Now Vessels are also being delayed due to ongoing congestion. II. There continues to be an acute shortage of truck power. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) estimates that the industry has a shortage of approximately 30,000 drivers nationwide. Hapag-Lloyd continues to explore opportunities to contract additional vendor companies. III. The success of the import delivery appointment system at some terminals has been limited in part by a lack of sufficient container handling equipment to pre-mount those containers prior to the scheduled pick-up appointment.

26 Sep 2014

Biden Champions Maritime at Port of Virginia

VP Biden speaks at the Port of Virginia (DOT photo)

Carrying 95 percent of U.S. foreign trade, our maritime transportation system, which includes America’s ports, is a crucial component of our nation’s economy. And with our growing population—and the associated need to increase the amount of freight our transportation network carries—maritime’s value will only grow in the future. This point is not lost on the Obama Administration, and it’s the reason why Vice President Joe Biden joined U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.), U.S. Rep.

23 May 2014

Sea Star to Implement New Chassis Program

Sea Star Line informs that as part of its long term program related to chassis utilization, commencing Monday, June 2, 2014, it will introduce a new chassis program for shipments moving to and from the Southeast United States. From the above date, Sea Star Line will no longer provide chassis, having partnered with Flexi-Van Leasing, Inc. to provide shippers, consignees, or their agents (motor carriers) with chassis directly. “The decision was made to expand the chassis program because it supports our service commitment to the trade, while positioning us for the future.” stated Jim Wagstaff, vice president of operations for Sea Star Line, LLC.

13 Mar 2014

Checchi Named VP at MOL America

MOL (America) Inc. said that Michael Checchi will enter the position of vice president, area operations, where he will lead MOL’s equipment, intermodal services, contract management, and operations administration groups for the United States and Canada. He will report to Richard Craig, executive vice president for sales and operations. Checchi served as the director of intermodal operations for OOCL for the past 13 years where he directed rail and motor carrier services procurement. He has also served in various operations roles with Matson Intermodal System, Inc. and APL Land Transport Services. He earned his undergraduate business administration degree from California State University, East Bay. “We’re excited to have someone with Mr.

04 Nov 2013

Commercial Cargo Pilot Seeks U.S.-Mexico Security

The many years of concern about the commercial Mexican-U.S. cross-border practices which slow down the movement of cross-border cargo and security implications, especially because of the drug cartel involvement in these movements, and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) concern for accuracy in cargo identification and their own need to know how efficiently cargo moves through Customs facilities, there is now taking place a cross-border project developed, directed and funded by the private sector to address these concerns. Because of the importance of security, visibility, control and efficiency in international shipments and its importance to the United States, six major U.S.

10 Jul 2013

IMUA Posts Summer Professional Development Schedule

The Inland Marine Underwriters Association (IMUA) announced its summer Professional Development educational events for 2013 which includes workshops, webinars, courses and field trips. The program concludes with the two-day Introduction to Commercial Inland Marine Insurance course in September. In making the announcement, Kevin O’Brien, IMUA President & CEO, said, “We have prepared a variety of educational opportunities for both members and non-members alike to explore over the summers months. The IMUA summer Professional Development schedule kicks off with a one-day workshop jointly sponsored with AIMU on Thursday, July 25, 2013 in New York with Learn to Negotiate.

08 Mar 2012

Sea Star Line Announces Rate Increases

Sea Star Line announced that it is implementing a general rate increase, effective April 1, 2012. The general rate increase of 3.5 percent  increase will be administered on shipments between U.S. ports and Puerto Rico. Sea Star Line cited escalating operational costs as the main driver for the increase. “Sea Star Line remains committed to the Puerto Rico trade and needs to implement rate increases and other activities to help to ensure continued profitability. This will position Sea Star Line to continue to reinvest in the Puerto Rico trade,” said Mike Nicholson, vice president of Strategic Planning & Yield Analysis. Effective March 5, 2012, a new chassis program is effective for shipments moving to and from the Northeast United States (NY/NJ/PHL Region).

24 Apr 2012

OSHA Settles Whistleblower Case

US Department of Labor's OSHA settles whistleblower case against New Orleans-based riverboat company; Agency found employee was illegally terminated under Seaman's Protection Act. The U.S. Department of Labor has entered into a settlement agreement with St. James Stevedoring Partners LLC New Orleans to resolve findings by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration that the company illegally terminated an employee for safety complaints, in violation of the Seaman's Protection Act. "Employees must feel free to exercise their rights under the law without fear of termination or retaliation by their employers," said John M. Hermanson, OSHA's regional administrator in Dallas. An OSHA whistleblower investigator found that St.

30 May 2012

A Regulatory Seascape

Raina Clark

Regulation shapes the workboat industry perhaps more than any other single factor. This regulatory seascape includes a myriad of onerous and ever-changing rules. A ‘SITREP’ on those choppy waters is therefore in order. Last December, the Coast Guard closed the public comment period following its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) requiring nearly all towing vessels to obtain Certificates of Inspection under Subchapter M of CFR 46. The Coast Guard’s Towing Vessel National Center of Expertise (NCE) estimates that there are 5,800 U.S.

03 Jul 2012

The Hearsay Portal: part 1 of 2

Chris Giermanski (Director of International Operations, Transportation Services, Inc.)

Dr. Jim Giermanski (Chairman, Powers Global Holdings, Inc.) and Chris Giermanski (Director of International Operations, Transportation Services, Inc.) weigh in on the balance between facilitating trade and guaranteeing cargo identity and quantity - and what CPB needs to do to achieve just that. Modernizing the flow of Customs data and improving security began many years ago. One aspect of this modernization process in the United States was the creation of the International Trade Data System (ITDS), a product of Vice President Gore’s National Performance Review in 1995.

05 Jul 2012

The Hearsay Portal: part 2 of 2

Chris Giermanski (Director of International Operations, Transportation Services, Inc.)

Dr. Jim Giermanski (Chairman, Powers Global Holdings, Inc.) and Chris Giermanski (Director of International Operations, Transportation Services, Inc.) weigh in on the balance between facilitating trade and guaranteeing cargo identity and quantity - and what CPB needs to do to achieve just that. Part 1 of this 2 part report ran online on Marinelink on Tuesday, July 3rd. The motor carrier, rail carrier, or vessel carrier  simply don’t know what is in an already loaded, sealed conveyance. The carrier takes the word of the shipper about the contents from a document provided by the shipper.