Washington, DC – March 2025 –The introduction of an Ocean Freight Shipper Bill of Rights presents a promising step forward in strengthening the relationship between shippers and carriers, ensuring both parties benefit from clearer, more equitable practices. NITL Ocean Chair Siva Narayanan, Syensqo, sees such a Bill as a vital opportunity to address key issues facing the freight shipping industry, fostering a stronger, more efficient shipping environment. The proposed Ocean Shipper Bill of Rights offers multiple benefits that stand to improve the entire shipping process: Enhanced Transparency: Shipping rates, terms, and conditions are often unclear, misleading, or even ambiguous. An Ocean Shipping Bill of Rights (OSBOR) will guarantee processes.

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Click here to read the Ocean Freight Shipper Bill of Rights.

On behalf of the Interested Parties for Hazardous Materials Transportation (“Interested Parties”)[1], we are writing today in support of efforts to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of government while also ensuring the continued safe and efficient transportation of hazardous materials.  In particular, we seek to highlight the critical functions of personnel who oversee the safe transport of hazardous materials within the Department of Transportation, particularly at the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).

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The National Industrial Transportation League (NITL) – who has been the voice of the shipper since 1907, and whose members in 2023 generated roughly $878 billion in gross revenues while spending billions of dollars on shipping freight annually – respectfully requests that you designate Patrick J. Fuchs (R) of Wisconsin, the longest-serving Member of the current Surface Transportation Board (STB or Board), as its Chair, and requests that this designation be done as expeditiously as possible.

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NITL is pleased to sign onto the letter to Mr. Daggett and Mr. Adam along with 267 federal, state and local trade associations representing American manufacturers, farmers and agribusinesses, wholesalers, retailers, restaurants, importers, exporters, distributors, transportation and logistics providers, and other supply chain stakeholders, we are writing to urge both the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance to return to the bargaining table with the goal of reaching a new labor contract before the new Jan. 15 contract expiration date. It is imperative for the parties to resume negotiations and remain at the table until a new contract is reached.

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On behalf of the undersigned organizations representing American manufacturers, farmers and agribusinesses, wholesalers, retailers, restaurants, importers, exporters, distributors, transportation and logistics providers, and other supply chain stakeholders, we are calling upon you and the administration to immediately use your authorities to end the strike.

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On behalf of the undersigned organizations representing manufacturers, farmers and agribusinesses, wholesalers, retailers, restaurants, manufacturers, importers, exporters, distributors, transportation and logistics providers, and other supply chain stakeholders, we are writing to you again expressing significant concern about the state of negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) to help them return to the bargaining table to restart stalled negotiations.

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The undersigned organizations write to urge you to include the language of the Carper-Peters amendment (#2502) to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024 (S. 4638), which reauthorizes the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS through October 1, 2026, into the substitute NDAA bill that will be filed soon.

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On behalf of the undersigned organization representing shippers, beneficial cargo owners, trucking companies and other supply chain stakeholders, we are writing in strong opposition to the petition filed by the Ocean Carrier Equipment Management Association to extend the effective date of the Detention and Demurrage Billing Requirements Final Rule (Final Rule). We urge the Commission to reject the petition.

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On behalf of the undersigned organizations representing manufacturers, farmers and agribusinesses, wholesalers, retailers, importers, exporters, distributors, transportation and logistics providers, and other supply chain stakeholders, we are writing to you regarding labor negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX). This labor contract, which covers all maritime ports along the East and Gulf coasts, is set to expire on September 30, 2024.

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The National Industrial Transportation League (“NITL” or the “League”) hereby submits its comments to the Federal Maritime Commission (“FMC”) regarding the Gemini Cooperation Agreement (“Gemini Agreement”) for which notice of the agreement’s filing with the agency was published in the Federal Register on June 6, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 48430).

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