Published: January 6, 2021
We realize that persistent port and rail ramp congestion, container chassis shortages, and excessive detention and demurrage fees from carriers, as well as upheaval among air cargo service providers, are causing significant harm to your import and export supply chains.
U.S. customs brokers, freight forwarders, and non-vessel-operating common carriers (NVOCCs) of all sizes are facing multi-week delays and higher costs of routing shipments through the nation's congested seaports, airports, and rail ramps.
The frustration of these delays is compounded by the imposition of excessive detention and demurrage fees by ocean carriers. In the worst cases, containers are being reported lost by the carriers and terminals. The same types of delays to commerce are experienced at the nation's airports. Truckers hired to retrieve or deliver freight, more than likely will encounter inefficiencies at ports and airports that severely disrupt and add significant cost to what should be an efficient activity. In many areas, there is a severe shortage of available truckers to move your cargo domestically.
Our company operates in the middle of the supply chain, on your behalf, and must contend with untangling these persistent transportation logistics challenges the best we can.
The National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA), of which we are members, is also doing its utmost to overcome these hurdles by communicating our collective frustrations to the nation's container ports and carriers, as well as to the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission which has taken great interest in this matter. Collectively our goal, like yours, is to find a quick and sensible resolution to our nation's troubled supply chain.
Unprecedented challenges are all encompassing, affecting ports, carriers, railroads, and truckers throughout the United States. As the front-line representative of your supply chain, please be assured that we are doing our very best to help you navigate your business through this difficult period.
Sincerely,
Betty Robson
President & CEO