NITL Files Comments with The Fertilizer Institute and American Chemistry Council. The NPRM closed Docket No. EP 711 (Sub-No. 1) (“Sub-Docket No. 1”), which had proposed regulations that would provide reciprocal switching pursuant to the standards in 49 U.S.C. § 11102(c) when “practicable and in the public interest, or where such agreements are necessary to provide competitive rail service.” In its place, the Board has opened this new sub[1]docket to provide for reciprocal switching solely to address “inadequate rail service” under the public interest standard of § 11102(c). The scope of the NPRM is much narrower than the scope sought by The NITL in its Petition for Rulemaking in Ex Parte No. 7112 and in the Board’s notice of proposed rulemaking in Sub-Docket No. 1.3 Both proposals sought to implement the full scope of § 11102(c) by enhancing rail competition through reciprocal switching. It is through such competition that the Coalition Associations remain convinced that service inadequacies can be most effectively addressed. Moreover, rail competition also fosters reasonable rates, balanced commercial terms, greater innovation, and increased efficiency, which in turn furthers multiple aspects of the national Rail Transportation Policies.4 Nevertheless, the NPRM proposes regulations that have the potential to be a significant improvement over the existing standards for reciprocal switching and have the support of the Coalition Associations with the modifications proposed herein.
Archive for News – Page 3
Dear NITL Members, Partners, Speakers, and Attendees:
The survey results from the NITL Engage 2023 conference demonstrate that the Conference was a success, and we are pleased to celebrate the reinvigorated NITL! We thank all of those who were able to participate in the Conference and are already looking for a venue for 2024, so please hold a space in your budget for NITL Engage 2024, we are looking at late October, early November and will get the details out as soon as the Education Committee approves the location.
NITL provides its responses to the Federal Maritime Commission’s (“FMC”) Request for Information (“RFI”) in Docket No. FMC-2023- 0016. The RFI concerns data challenges in the ocean cargo supply chain network that have been examined as part of the Maritime Transportation Data Initiative (“MTDI”) led by Commissioner Carl W. Bentzel.1 The Commission seeks additional information from stakeholders in the shipping industry to expand the information gathered from the MTDI sessions and address additional topics related to data availability, accuracy, transmission, and exchange.
The National Industrial Transportation League (NITL or League), the nation’s oldest trade association representing US shippers that rely on rail freight transportation systems to competitively ship their materials domestically and internationally, welcomes today’s Surface Transportation Board’s (STB or Board) unanimous Decision in proposing service-based alternative switching and data collection addressing reliability, consistency, and inadequate local rail carrier service. NITL applauds the agency for its bi-partisan efforts on this issue and their eagerness to get to a final rule by the end of the year.
The CFATS Coalition comprises trade associations and companies regulated by the CFATS program. Coalition members represent major sectors of the American economy, including chemical production, chemical distribution and storage, manufacturing, oil and gas refining, utilities, mining, and agricultural goods and services. The businesses we represent and the goods they produce are vital to the American economy and our quality of life.
The (“CFATS Coalition”) urge Congress to swiftly consider and approve H.R. 4470, House-passed legislation to reauthorize for two years the Chemical Facility Antiterrorism Standards (CFATS) program that expired on July 27, 2023.
The National Industrial Transportation League (“NITL” or the “League”) hereby submits its comments in response to the Federal Maritime Commission’s (“FMC” or the “Commission”) Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“SNPRM”) published in the Federal Register on June 14, 2023. The Commission is proposing to expand the scope of this proceeding to include ocean carrier unreasonable refusals to provide cargo space accommodations, when available, under § 41104(a)(3), and has revised certain proposals included in its prior notice of proposed rulemaking (“NPRM”) concerning ocean carrier unreasonable refusals to deal or negotiate vessel space accommodations under § 41104(a)(10).
The undersigned organizations are concerned by the growing possibility of a strike by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters in their negotiations for a new labor contract with the United Parcel Service. Given the debilitating impact of a strike on American families and the economy, we urge your Administration to provide the support necessary to help the parties reach a new agreement by the August 1 deadline.
The Commission’s notice seeks comments from interested parties regarding an Amendment to the World Shipping Council Agreement, FMC Agreement No. 201349, that would authorize the ocean carrier parties to the Agreement to coordinate the development of cargo screening and inspection processes and tools for hazardous materials shipments.
(Bloomberg Intelligence) — Shippers in Bloomberg’s inaugural poll with the National Industrial Transportation League (NITL) expect demand to rise in 2H, yet many remain unsatisfied with rail service, despite recent improvements. The survey included a variety of companies with global operations, with a majority having transportation budgets of more than $101 million and in sectors like food and petrochemicals. (07/06/23)
The Americans for Free Trade coalition is a broad alliance of American businesses, trade organizations, and workers united against tariffs. We appreciate the work that the Select Committee on the CCP is undertaking to highlight and address the ongoing economic and national security risks posed by the Chinese Communist Party. We believe it is important to provide Committee members with additional perspective about how the punitive Section 301 tariffs on Chinese products continue to impact U.S. businesses, workers and consumers. We believe this is especially urgent after the Committee’s most recent hearing – Leveling the Playing Field: How to Counter the Chinese Communist Party’s Economic Aggression during which it was suggested that the Section 301 tariffs have been beneficial to the U.S. economy, businesses, and workers and that they should remain in place or even be increased. For the reasons described below, we strongly disagree.
2024 MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY
