The Changing Legal Landscape of Intermodalism – Part 1

This project investigates the ongoing legal challenges surrounding chassis. In 2020, Intermodal Motor Carriers Conference (IMCC) of American Trucking Associations and the Ocean Carriers Equipment Management Association (OCEMA) were involved in negotiations to resolve what IMCC charged were high-priced and inferior quality chassis at many of the nation’s ports. IMCC alleges that OCEMA and 11 international ocean carriers violated the Shipping Act of 1984 by inflating intermodal chassis prices at dozens of ports. IMCC said this has cost the trucking industry $1.8 billion over the past three years. IMCC filed a lawsuit with the Federal Maritime Commission’s (FMC) judicial division. On January 29, 2021, the Federal Maritime Commission judge, Judge Erin Wirth, overseeing the $1.8 billion case rejected OCEMA’s appeal to have the case stayed. Additionally, United States International Trade Commission and the US Chamber of Commerce have ongoing anti-dumping investigations about chassis and subassemblies from China (particularly CMIC). Intellectual Merit: Chassis are considered the linchpin of the intermodal system. Legal challenges at a variety of federal agencies could fundamentally alter the dynamics of intermodalism and the associated supply chains that rely upon it.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $104559
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3551747130

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Maritime Transportation Research and Education Center

  University of Arkansas
  Fayetteville, AR  United States  72701
• Performing Organizations:

  University of New Orleans Transportation Institute

  368 Milneburg Hall
  2000 Lakeshore Drive
  New Orleans, Louisiana  United States  70148
• Principal Investigators:

  Stich, Bethany

• Start Date: 20210701
• Expected Completion Date: 20230630
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Chassis; Intermodal transportation; Legal action; Legal factors; Quality assurance; Ship lines; Subassemblies; Supply chain management
• Geographic Terms: China
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Law; Marine Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01778233
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Maritime Transportation Research and Education Center
• Contract Numbers: 69A3551747130
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Jul 29 2021 9:17AM