FMC Seeks Comments for Establishing New Detention and Demurrage Billing Rule
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) is seeking comments on a series of questions to gauge how to best regulate the demurrage and detention billing practices of common carriers and marine terminal operators (MTO).
A list of 16 questions was provided as part of the FMC: Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and asks interested parties for their input on billing information, time and other areas including:
A list of 16 questions was provided as part of the FMC: Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and asks interested parties for their input on billing information, time and other areas including:
- Should the FMC include vessel operating common carriers, non-vessel operating common carriers or MTOs in a proposed demurrage/detention billing requirement?
- What types of information should be required on demurrage/detention bills?
- What information/timeframes should be required for demurrage/detention bills?
- Should the billing party be required to identify the basis for why the invoiced party is liable for the charges?
- Should the FMC require invoices to be issued within 60 days of the date when detention/demurrage/per diem stops accruing.
The California Trucking Association and the Harbor Trucking Association are in the process of drafting a formal response to address the concerns of both memberships.
The original deadline of March 17 has been to April 17, 2022.
For additional information or assistance with providing comments, contact Bernice Jimenez Creager bcreager@caltrux.org.
