Trade using surface transportation between the U.S. and Canada and Mexico was up 6.2 percent in 2012 compared to 2011, reaching $960 billion, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics of the U.S. Department of Transportation. That's the highest annual amount of surface trade since NAFTA went into effect in 1994, said BTS. U.S. imports by surface mode increased 5.6 percent in 2012 from 2011, while surface-based exports increased 6.9 percent during the same period, it said.
Shippers and carriers of hazardous materials want electronic shipping to be flexible, performance-based and not mandatory, according to draft working papers released March 25 by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. The comments stem from workshops held last year on the administration’s pilot project to allow paperless e-shipping for hazardous materials shipments, titled HM-ACCESS (Hazardous Materials -- Automated Cargo Communication for Effective and Safe Shipments).
The Agricultural Marketing Service released the Ocean Shipping Container Availability Report (OSCAR) for the week of March 20-26. The weekly report contains data on container availability for westbound transpacific traffic at 18 intermodal locations in the U.S.1 from the eight member carriers of the Westbound Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (WTSA).2 Although the report is compiled by AMS, it covers container availability for all merchandise, not just agricultural products.
The Federal Maritime Commission released a notice of the filing of the following agreement under the Shipping Act of 1984. Interested parties may submit comments on the agreements to the Secretary, Federal Maritime Commission, Washington, DC 20573, within 10 days.
The Federal Maritime Commission said the following have filed applications for a license as a Non-Vessel-Operating Common Carrier (NVO) and/or Ocean Freight Forwarder (OFF)-Ocean Transportation Intermediary (OTI) pursuant to section 19 of the Shipping Act of 1984. The FMC also gave notice of the filing of applications to amend an existing OTI license or the qualifying individual for a license. Interested persons may contact the Office of Transportation Intermediaries, Federal Maritime Commission, Washington, D.C. 20573, at 202-523-5843 or at OTI@fmc.gov.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has amended its regulations to impose additional security requirements for the use and transportation of risk-significant radioactive material. The new requirements affect category 1 and 2 quantities of radioactive material -- which refer to 16 specific radioactive materials -- and apply to anyone who possesses, uses or transports an aggregated quantity of category 1 or 2. The rule created an access authorization program, and requires background checks and criminal history records checks be done on individuals granted unescorted access to category 1 and 2 materials. The rule also requires licensees to develop a written security plan and to establish security zones for the uses of category 1 and 2 material. The rule is effective May 20, but licensees do not need to comply until March 2014.
Industry stakeholders support the Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s proposal to harmonize U.S. and international rules for lithium battery air shipment, but said some of the proposed rules will lead to confusion and could jeopardize safety. PHMSA’s proposed rule, published in January, seeks to harmonize U.S. regulations for air transport of lithium cells and batteries with the regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organization Technical Instructions 13010305. In comments, the Rechargeable Battery Association said the proposed rule allows carriers and shippers to comply with either existing PHMSA regulations or the International instructions. These dual standards “create a cloud of confusion for everyone in the battery industry,” said George Kerchner, the association’s executive director in a statement. “Confusion limits compliance. And lack of compliance jeopardizes safety.” Comments on the rule were due March 5.
The Agricultural Marketing Service released the Ocean Shipping Container Availability Report (OSCAR) for the week of March 13-19. The weekly report contains data on container availability for westbound transpacific traffic at 18 intermodal locations in the U.S.1 from the eight member carriers of the Westbound Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (WTSA).2 Although the report is compiled by AMS, it covers container availability for all merchandise, not just agricultural products.
The International Longshoreman's Association (ILA) Wage Scale Committee voted to recommend approval of a six-year agreement with the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX), according to a press release. The contract will now go to ILA's and USMX's members for ratification.
The amount of freight carried for-hire rose 1.2% in January from December, rising for the third consecutive month, said the Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics' (BTS) Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI). The rail and trucking increases were partly due to inventory growth, said BTS.