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Volume 64 August 11, 2000
This Issue:
Global Shippers Network Launches "Shippers Newswire"
Visitors to the League-hosted website www.globalshippersnetwork.net will now find a new feature being provided by the publishers of American Shipper called "Shippers Newswire." The service provides free late breaking news on important developments affecting shippers.
Included within the program is a service called ComPair. ComPair provides users with information on all direct carrier services between specific points as well as data on feeder and intermodal connections.
You will find this feature on the bottom of GSN's homepage.
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DOT Extends Comment Period on HOS
Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater announced that the comment period on the hours-of-service rulemaking would be extended to Dec. 15, 2000. This is the second time the comment period has been extended in order to obtain the maximum input possible during the rulemaking process.
On April 25, 2000, DOT proposed to improve highway safety by changing the current hours-of-service rule, which regulates the number of hours drivers of big trucks and buses can operate without resting. The comment period, originally ending on July 31, 2000, was first extended to Oct. 30, 2000.
Comments on the April 25 proposal may be sent to the USDOT Docket Facility, Attn: Docket FMCSA-97-2350, 400 Seventh St., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590. The proposal may be viewed on the Internet after searching at www.dms.dot.gov. Comments also may be submitted electronically at this site.
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DOT Schedules HOS Stakeholders Meetings
The Department of Transportation has scheduled three in-depth "roundtable" discussions in an effort to update the driver's hours of service rules. The first meeting will be Sept. 25-26 at the National 4-H Center, 7100 Connecticut Ave., Chevy Chase, Md. The remaining meetings will be Sept. 28-29 and Oct. 5-6 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, 2660 Woodley Road, N.W., Washington, DC.
The meetings will be hosted by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Clyde Hart, Jr., Acting Deputy Administrator, first raised the prospect of holding open roundtable discussions, while speaking at the July meeting of the League's Board of Directors and the Motor Carrier Executive Advisory Council. While the sessions are open to the public, participants, including the League, will be invited based on comments already submitted or made at public hearings.
The information collected during the roundtable discussions, in conjunction with findings from eight public hearings held around the country and other comments, will be evaluated as the department proceeds with the rulemaking process.
The timing of these meetings and the need to assess the new information gathered will make it extremely difficult to implement new rules this year. Additionally, should the department determine the subject needs further study it has the option of issuing a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking which would probably extend into next year.
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Update on Faxed SEDs Deadline
Last week the League reported (Notice, August 4) that the U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Customs Service had pushed back the deadline ending the practice of permitting shippers to send facsimile copies of Shippers Export Declarations (SEDs) to exporting carriers to November 1, 2000. In the interim the League has learned further details on an agreement between exporting carriers and the government which facilitated postponement of the deadline.
U.S. Census officials told the League that the original August 4 deadline for ending faxed SEDs will still apply to carriers that have not signed onto the agreement. These carriers will be required to have original or Automated Export System transmitted SED's from shippers and/or forwarders. Currently the Census official said that 27 ocean carriers have signed onto the agreement and may continue to receive faxed SEDs until November 1. The postponement of the faxed SED deadline does not apply to truck or rail carriers.
Under the agreement the ocean carriers have agreed to provide Census with lists of customers who file faxed SEDs, including names, addresses and telephone numbers, and lists of their outbound ports. Additionally the carriers must perform legibility checks of faxed SEDs, create links to AES Direct on their Internet websites, and ensure that their Vessel Sharing Agreement partners sign the agreement. After November 1, all ocean carriers must stop accepting faxed SEDs from their customers and continue to promote the use of AES. They must also impose an SED handling fee as set forth in their tariff agreements.
The Census Office will provide periodic reports to the carriers on their progress to convert shippers and forwarders to AES. The agency also agreed not to divulge names of the carriers when contacting their clients who are filing paper SEDs.
Shippers who are transmitting faxed SEDs to ocean carriers should contact their carriers to determine if they are a party to the agreement.
For League members and associates, a complete copy of the agreement is on the League's website at www.nitl.org. Others may e-mail Census at c.harvey.monk.jr@ccmail.census.gov.
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Ocean Carriers Set Record High Rates
As ocean shipping continues to increase in volume, rates for most types of vessels continue to rise reaching new levels flirting with record highs. The ocean carriers are responding to a thriving world economy that has fueled the demand for goods.
According to London analysts Clarkson Research Studies, average earnings across the ocean carrier shipping markets, hit $19,948 a day in July. Average earnings rarely surpassed $16,000 a day in the 1990s. In July, the average rate was nearly $3,500 a day more than the previous average peak of $16,600 in February 1991, when tanker rates climbed at record rates during the Persian Gulf War.
Although charter rates for mid-sized container ships are still nearly 50% more than last year, rates seem to have steadied following six months of steep increases. The 12-month average charter rate over the past three months was $23,000 a day, compared with $16,500 this time last year.
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Annual Meeting Housing Bureau
For the next few weeks leading up to the League's annual meeting in Fort Lauderdale, November 11-15, 2000, we will use this space to highlight events, speakers, seminars, and TransComp information.
Annual Meeting Housing Bureau
The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention Bureau has requested that the League stress the importance of completing the entire "Housing Request Form" that was included with the Annual Meeting Registration materials.
The GFLCB has informed the League that many applications for room space have been received without completion of the confirmation portion (name, address, and phone number), located at the bottom of the page. Without this information it is extremely difficult to accomodate meeting attendees and confirm hotel space.
If you have submitted your reservation form to the Housing Bureau but have not received a confirmation, please contact the Housing Supervisor at 945/765-4774.
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Rate Bureau Announces Rate Increase For US-Canada Freight
The North American Transportation Council has announced a 4.7% rate increase on cross-border traffic between the U.S. and Canada, effective September 5,2000. The NATC, formerly called the Niagara Frontier Tariff Bureau, represents about 100 motor carriers.
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USDA Offers Online Report on Ocean Container Market
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has published the Agricultural Ocean Transportation Trends, a semiannual online report on the ocean container market's cost and service trends. The report may be viewed at www.ams.usda.gov/tmd/agott.
The report was developed using data contained in the monthly AMS Ocean Rate Bulletin, which tracks agricultural container rates for high-valued agricultural commodities to most Asian and some European countries. USDA uses the data to generate monthly rate trends to see how the market is responding to changes in trade patterns or U.S. regulations -- such as the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 1998, which allows confidential service contracts.
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NCC Panel Changes Classifications
A National Classification Committee panel met on August 7 and 8 in Bellevue, WA and voted to make a number of changes in freight classification ratings.
Changes adopted include increasing the rating on golf bags from Class 200 to Class 250, and for unboxed, non-powered tree pruners from Class 85 to Class 200. A proposal to create a new rating on personal watercraft such as "jet skis" weighing six or more pounds per cubic feet at Class 125, as opposed to other, lighter jet skis rated at Class 150, was voted down.
The panel also discussed a proposal to increase the rating on cigarettes from Class 70 to Class 85, based on recent litigation and the resulting increase in the price of cigarettes, as well as cargo loss due to theft. After lengthy discussion, the panel voted to table the proposal and asked the staff to review it further.
Several panel members expressed their disappointment that few shippers were present. Additionally, there was concern that not very many had returned surveys providing information on affected products.
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Montana Utility Files Against BNSF
On July 6, 2000, PPL Montana filed a complaint with the Surface Transportation Board against the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe railroad, alleging that coal rates assessed by BNSF exceed a maximum reasonable level.
The rates at issue comprise trainload and unit-train movements of coal, in shipper-owned cars, from origins in Wyoming and Montana to PPL Montana's electric generating facility at Billings, MT. The complaint alleges that BNSF possesses market dominance over the traffic, and requests that maximum reasonable rates be prescribed, along with other relief, including reparations.
The Board set a revised procedural schedule in the proceeding: discovery period ends September 19, 2000; opening statements are due November 3, 2000; reply statements are due January 17, 2001; and rebuttal statements are due February 26, 2001.
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DOT Hazmat Delegations Signed
The Department of Transportation hazmat delegations have been signed. These documents give authority to implement the recommendations in the Research and Special Programs Administration/Inspector General's DOT-wide hazmat evalution report released in March 2000. The delegations create a hazmat focus in the Secretary's Office of Intermodalism; redesignate each DOT operational administration's authority over hazmat from "exclusive" for the modes they regulate to "primary"; and give DOT's Bureau of Transportation Statistics a role over hazmat data collection to fill in gaps and standardize data sets. The delegations will be effective shortly, when published in the Federal Register.
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Deadline for Comments on Diesel Rules
The Environmental Protection Administration has announced informally that it currently has no plans to extend the comment period on its proposed rules for diesel fuel. Thus the deadline for submission of comments remains August 14. The American Petroleum Institute had asked for an extension of 30 days.
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DOT Names New Hazmat Chief
The Department of Transportation's Research and Special Programs Administration has announced the appointment of Robert A. McGuire as Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety. Mr. McGuire had been the deputy, since 1991, to Alan I. Roberts, who retired from the post in April after serving as the chief hazmat safety officer for over 30 years.
The office coordinates national safety programs for the transportation of hazardous materials for all modes.
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Upcoming Events
| Aug. 29 |
United Transportation Union Regional Meeting, Minneapolis, Minnesota (Ed Emmett to speak) |
| Sept. 18 |
NCBFFAA Legislative Meeting, Washington, D.C (Kathy Luhn to speak) |
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League 2000 Calendar
| Sept.
10–12 |
Tripartite
Shippers' Meeting, Haifa, Israel |
| Sept.
17–20 |
ITAC Fall Meeting, Lake Buena Vista, Florida |
| Nov.
11–15 |
Annual Meeting and TransComp 2000, Fort Lauderdale, Florida |
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Fuel Index
The Department of Energy's [(202) 586-6966] fuel price information for the week of
August 7, 2000, is shown below. For a graphical presentation of current and historical prices,
click here:
- National diesel fuel price, $1.410 per gallon
- East Coast diesel fuel price, $1.423 per gallon
- New England diesel fuel price, $1.513 per gallon
- Central Atlantic diesel fuel price, $1.506 per gallon
- Lower Atlantic diesel fuel price, $1.379 per gallon
- Midwest diesel fuel price, $1.382 per gallon
- Gulf Coast diesel fuel price, $1.374 per gallon
- Rocky Mountain diesel fuel price, $1.459 per gallon
- West Coast diesel fuel price, $1.511 per gallon
- California diesel fuel price, $1.599 per gallon
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Job Opportunities
If you'd like to advertise a position in Job Opportunities, contact Cheryl Melencio, (703) 524-5011; melencio@nitl.org. Cost is $25 per 50 words for League members and associates; $35 per 50 words for others.
Logistics Finance & Supply Chain Analyst: American Standard Companies, Inc., is internationally recognized as a leader in the highest quality plumbing products and services. We currently have an exceptional opportunity for a Logistics Finance & Supply Chain Analyst at our Piscataway, NJ headquarters. The successful candidate will be responsible for the review and reporting of key metrics for the Logistics Group including: logistics cost reporting, productivity and cost reduction metrics, and transporter performance evaluations. Position is also responsible for distribution analysis; transport routing control; operations oversight, project work with transportation and supply chain planning systems. The individual we seek will have a four year degree, preferably in Logistics, Accounting, Finance or a related field, and 4-10 years experience. Qualifications include knowledge of MS Excel, Access, PowerPoint and Word, as well as an overall and thorough understanding of logistics processes and function. We offer an excellent salary and benefits package, including an employee fitness center, employee stock ownership/purchase plan; and 401K. For consideration, please send your resume (in Word format only) with salary requirements to: A. Gillespie, Mgr Logistics, Global Logistics Group, American Standard Companies, Plumbing Products, P.O. Box 6820, Piscataway, NJ 08855-6820; FAX: 732-980-3034; or e-mail to: gillespiea@amstd.com. We will respond only to those candidates whose background and qualifications most closely fit our needs. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, M/F/D/V. Posted August 11.
International Logistics Coordinator: Cerestar USA, Inc. (located 20 minutes from downtown Chicago) is a leading producer of ingredients for the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, paper and corrugating industries. Cerestar is part of Eridania Beghin-Say, a worldwide leader of processed agricultural raw materials serving the Food and Industrial markets. EBS is headquartered in Paris, France and has 160 operating locations around the world and sales of $12 billion (US) annually. We currently have an opening for an International Logistics Coordinator at our Hammond, Indiana facility. Primary responsibilities will include: both importation and exportation of a wide range of products produced by a major multi-national corporation. Familiarization with all aspects of import and export documentation and international laws governing such is required. The successful candidate will also be involved in domestic distribution channels, and will work closely with customer service. Qualifications will include: a minimum of 3-5 years related business experience with a Bachelor degree preferred. This position will also require a well-organized individual with expertise in international logistics. Candidate must be proficient with PC (Excel/Word/Access) and other database software programs that conform to company standards along with the ability to work effectively in a team environment. In return, you will enjoy a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package. Interested candidates please submit resume with salary history to: Cerestar USA, Inc., Attn: Human Resources, 1100 Indianapolis Blvd., Hammond, IN 46320; fax: (219) 473-6604. EOE/M/F/D/V. Posted August 11.
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Information
The Notice--a weekly newsletter that provides up-to-date information on
domestic and international transportation issues–is published by The National Industrial
Transportation League. The League, founded in 1907, is the nation's oldest and largest
shipper association representing businesses of all sizes, using all modes of transportation to
move their goods in intrastate, interstate, and international commerce.
The information contained in the Notice is copyrighted by The National
Industrial Transportation League. The Notice, The Shippers' Voice,
and The Shippers' Voice on the Internet are registered trademarks of The
National Industrial Transportation League.
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