The Federal Maritime Commission is expected to make a decision by Aug. 18, 2014, on a complaint filed by Streak Products against UTi. The complaint alleges UTi charged Streak more than it charges other shippers and overcharged beyond the required tariffs starting in 2003. Streak is seeking reparations from UTi for violations of the Shipping act and other costs and any further relief determined to be fair by the FMC. The proceeding was assigned to the Office of Administrative Law Judges.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is requesting comment by May 2 on a Pre-Authorization Safety Audit (PASA) related to a pilot program which allows Mexican and Canadian trucking companies to operate in the U.S. The PASA is for RAM Trucking, which applied to participate in the agency’s long-haul pilot program to test the ability of Mexico-domiciled motor carriers to operate safely in the U.S. The PASA and original application are (here). The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit recently upheld the pilot program against a legal challenge by labor unions (see 13042201).

Airline trade groups are seeking help from the judicial system to stop planned furloughs of air traffic controllers at the Federal Aviation Administration. The groups filed a petition for review with the U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit that says the court should "vacate the capacity reduction plan and remand to the agencies with instructions to instead reasonably and responsibly exercise their statutory discretion, consistent with the public interest, in accordance with the law." Airlines for America (A4A), the Regional Airlines Association and the Air Line Pilots Association made the filing together. The FAA misread the Budget Control Act, also known as sequestration, when the FAA said the law removed the agency's discretion in making cuts, the groups said.

The Federal Aviation Administration posted information on how sequestration budget cuts will affect its Aviation Safety Office. The office will "implement the required 11 days of furlough April 21 though Sept. 30, it said. The furlough days vary within each office, it said.

The Agricultural Marketing Service released the Ocean Shipping Container Availability Report (OSCAR) for the week of April 17-23. 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 Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is temporarily lowering registration fees for the 2013-14 year for persons who transport hazardous materials, due to an unexpended balance in the agency’s Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Fund. The new fees cover all persons -- as defined in PHMSA regulations -- that transport or offer for transportation in commerce certain categories and quantities of hazardous materials. The new amounts are:

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 Federal Maritime Commission released a notice of the filing of the following agreements under the Shipping Act of 1984. Interested parties may submit comments on the agreement to the Secretary, Federal Maritime Commission, Washington, DC 20573, within 10 days.

The Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration increased maximum and minimum civil penalties for knowing violations of the Federal hazardous material transportation law. The revisions set forth changes required by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, passed by Congress last year. The new amounts are:

The Agricultural Marketing Service released the Ocean Shipping Container Availability Report (OSCAR) for the week of April 10-16. 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.