Truckers, shippers warn against delaying container fee rule

WASHINGTON — Drayage truckers and shippers are pushing hard against a request by container ship operators to delay a recent rule regulating how containers can be billed, warning the Federal Maritime Commission that such a move would lead to supply chain havoc.

The Ocean Carrier Equipment Management Association (OCEMA), which represents 10 of the largest international ocean carriers, argued in its petition to the FMC that because the agency made a correction to its final rule on demurrage and...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/truckers-shippers-warn-against-delaying-container-fee-rule

California asks EPA for waiver to implement Advanced Clean Fleets rule

With less than three weeks before California’s Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) rule is set to take effect, the state is seeking a waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency that would end any questions about whether the state can implement it. 

A waiver request for California-specific environmental regulations is generally required under the federal Clean Air Act (CAA). The CAA allows the state and its unique status under the act to impose environmental restrictions and mandates that go beyond...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/california-asks-epa-for-waiver-to-implement-advanced-clean-fleets-rule

New California law designed to rein in detention and demurrage charges

The California trucking community is celebrating the approval of a new state law that it believes will reduce detention and demurrage charges for containers that are not picked up or returned to ports in a timely manner.

Gov. Gavin Newsom last week signed Assembly Bill 2406, which prohibits intermodal equipment providers and marine terminal operators from imposing per diem detention or demurrage charges except in certain cases. 

Demurrage and detention charges are levied under two circumstances....

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/new-california-law-designed-to-rein-in-detention-and-demurrage-charges

California trucking’s AB5 options get a hearing at IANA; brokerage on top?

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Marc Blubaugh, the lead transportation attorney at the Benesch law firm, looked out over easily more than 1,000 people gathered for the annual meeting of the Intermodal Association for North America and told them something they might not have wanted to hear about California’s AB5 independent contractor law.

“If you came into this session thinking you’re going to hear the bulletproof compliance model, you’re going to be disappointed,” Blubaugh said.

Yet even if there was no...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/california-truckings-ab5-options-get-a-hearing-at-iana-brokerage-on-top

GSCW chat: Dissecting West Coast drayage challenges

FIRESIDE CHAT TOPIC: Drayage challenges and opportunities at America’s West Coast ports 

DETAILS: Port congestion issues have presented drayage carriers with a rapidly changing market and challenging operating conditions. In this fireside chat, Harbor Trucking Association CEO Matt Schrap and FreightWaves market expert Mike Baudendistel discuss how drayage carriers can optimize productivity and how West Coast ports can maintain their market share.

SPEAKER: Matt Schrap, CEO, Harbor Trucking...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/gscw-chat-dissecting-west-coast-drayage-challenges

LA’s empty-box charge could spark negative reaction from carriers

US hauliers fear an empty-container dwell charge at the port of Los Angeles will see shipping lines delay the return of boxes to the port.
Executive director Gene Seroka announced in mid-December that such a fee was under consideration and on 30 December, the port announced charges on long-dwelling empties would be imposed from 30 January.
However, drayage firms are concerned this could prompt ocean liners to adopt a more restrictive stance …

The post LA’s empty-box charge could spark negative...

https://theloadstar.com/las-empty-box-charge-could-spark-negative-reaction-from-carriers/

Unplugging USWC gateways still tricky, thanks to ‘insatiable’ consumers

As Americans enjoy their Thanksgiving holiday today, they must be wondering how smooth their shopping experience in the coming days is going to be.
Over the past weeks there has been a rising chorus of warnings of likely stock outages as a result of supply chain disruptions.
While these have occurred all the way from closed factories in China and South-east Asia, to clogged rail yards in the Midwest, most of the …

The post Unplugging USWC gateways still tricky, thanks to ‘insatiable’ consumers...

https://theloadstar.com/unplugging-uswc-gateways-still-tricky-thanks-to-insatiable-consumers/

California truck weight exemption unlikely to ease ports logjam

California Gov. Gavin Newsom flanked by officials and longshoremen at the Port of Long Beach during a press conference.

The California Department of Transportation said Wednesday it will begin issuing temporary permits allowing trucks carrying heavier loads of up to 88,000 pounds for import loads on the state highway system, but the change is unlikely to produce intended reductions in huge container backlogs at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

The increased truck weight limit will apply to the entire state highway system, including interstate routes, for moves between ports and distribution centers in...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/california-truck-weight-exemption-unlikely-to-ease-ports-logjam

How fast can LA clear out its ships?

Now that the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have moved to 24/7 operations, pressure is mounting to reduce the backlog of ships at anchor in San Pedro Bay.

But more coordination will be required among the links in the Southern California supply chain before that can happen. And with 25 more containerships filled with holiday inventory from Asia scheduled to anchor within the next three days, results have to come fast.

As part of the ports’ new 24/7 operating plan, instead of waiting for cargo...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/how-fast-can-la-clear-out-its-ships

Gridlock approaches as US terminal congestion moves inland

There are signs of a reduction in the backlog of ships waiting to get into major US ports, but chronic congestion is moving inland, threatening further headaches for carriers seeking to redress the global equipment imbalance, said online freight forwarder Flexport.

While the number of vessels waiting to dock in Los Angeles/Long Beach has dropped below 20 for five consecutive days, getting boxes in and out of the terminals is becoming one of the key bottlenecks according to Flexport’s trucking...

https://container-news.com/gridlock-approaches-as-us-terminal-congestion-moves-inland/