demurrage

In this edition: East Coast ports take center stage, demurrage charges get a hike, and another acquisition is complete.

Southern California ports and private operators are using carrots and sticks to help eliminate a massive pileup of cargo.

Double demurrage in Seattle: A terminal operator is adding a second layer of fees for extended container dwell times.

Cargo is moving a bit more smoothly at the Southern California ports, giving officials reason to hold off assessing stiff storage fees.

Private marine terminals in Tacoma are putting more pressure on importers to pick up containers that are left for weeks and choking the movement of cargo.

Four shipper associations have asked the Surface Transportation Board to see if demurrage charges can be applied to privately owned railcars to improve the flow of railcars through the network.

The Surface Transportation Board’s final rule on what information should be included in a demurrage billing statement provides transparency and accountability in a process shippers sometimes see as opaque.

The Surface Transportation Board defines what billing information should be included in demurrage invoices to rail users as a means to provide more transparency.

On the whole, deregulation of transportation is beneficial to the economy.

Some shipping groups say the Board’s recent actions on demurrage and accessorial charges will help bring about more productive rail rate disputes.

The board hopes the decisions will clarify the controversial practice for stakeholders.

The rule, effective on April 3, addresses concerns of shippers, particularly those involved in paper products, steel scrap and agricultural goods.

The changes come as the railroad deploys precision scheduled railroading.

The regulatory agency for rail receives a flurry of feedback on rail rate reasonableness and demurrage and accessorial charges.

Evan Efstathiou has just bought his way into the maritime tech landscape.

The proposed actions address major rail shipper complaints voiced to the Board earlier this year.

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) issued a proposed rule to promote “just and reasonable” demurrage and detention charges.

FMC Commissioner Rebecca Dye is scheduled to deliver her demurrage and detention recommendations to her fellow commissioners on Sept. 3.

Jim Blaze writes about the pros and cons of shippers owning or leasing their own freight railcars to move their products.

Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific are modifying some of the ways they collect demurrage and accessorial charges for some commodities, but some shippers are questioning the modifications.

Appeals court rejects CMA CGM’s attempt to avoid paying up.

“The board has the authority to define reasonable practices. If you were in our shoes, what would you do?” said Surface Transportation Board vice chairman Patrick Fuchs to a panel representing BNSF, Canadian National and Canadian Pacific.

At least 35 groups will be testifying before the Surface Transportation Board this week to provide their perspective on how the Class I railroads assess demurrage and accessorial charges. The charges have become controversial because some shippers say the changes that the Class I railroads have made in administering the charges are unfair.

In partnership with Reliance Partners …When incurring demurrage and detention charges, shippers and carriers lose out on hundreds of dollars per diem. Optimizing drayage operations and dispatching cargo as quickly as possible could help in reducing the burden, especially during unanticipated port delays.