While detention and demurrage fees have increased across the globe, these charges have had a disproportionate impact on California Businesses with fees at the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles as the highest in the world. Under ordinary circumstances, these fees are designed to encourage the efficient use of containers. However, during our recent and ongoing port congestion crisis, late charges have been imposed on California businesses by Equipment Providers even when containers cannot be returned due to circumstances not within the control of the importer, exporter or trucker.
In an effort to protect against abusive detention and demurrage practices, CTA collaborated with Assembly Member Cecilia Aguiar-Curry to introduce Assembly Bill 2406.
This measure would expand the originial protectins for California businesses set by SB 45 (Alarcon, 2005) to protect against unfair demurrage fees by:
Modernizing the reference of “intermodal marine terminal” to include Equipment Providers who rent out export containers
Add Beneficial Cargo Owners, Intermediaries
Extend protections to new types of fees being imposed by Equipment Providers
Adds canceled vessels, unilaterally delayed early return dates to conditions for waiving late return charges (per diem/demurrage)
Adds lack of appointments and appointment restrictions to conditions late return charges (per diem/demurrage)
In addition to leading the coalition, CTA is proud to have gained the support of more than 60 organizations representing the interests of California's retail, manufacturing, and agricultural community including:
• Agricultural Council of California
• American Trucking Associations
• Association of Home Appliances
• California Farm Bureau
• California Manufacturers and Technology Association
• California Retailers Association
• Western Growers Association
AB 2406 is scheduled to be heard in the Assembly Transportation committee on either April 18 or April 25. CTA are in the process of putting together an email campaign to share voice support of the bill with members of the committee and will provide instructions for calling into the hearing to express support.
Caltrans is alerting motorists traveling on U.S. Highway 50 between Sacramento and South Lake Tahoe to traffic controls and detours during rock scaling and slope stabilization work around Echo Summit.
Passenger cars and pick-up trucks are being detoured via Johnson Pass Road with one-way traffic control in effect to reduce Echo Summit traffic queues. Delays of up to 30 minutes are expected on Johnson Pass Road. Commercial vehicles and passenger vehicles towing trailers will remain on U.S. Highway 50 over Echo Summit with one-way traffic control in effect. Delays of 30 to 45 minutes are expected over Echo Summit.
U.S. Highway 50 detours will be in effect during the following periods:
• Tuesday, March 22 through Thursday, March 24 – 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Friday, March 25 – 7 a.m. to noon
These measures will permit Caltrans and its contractor, Granite Construction, to expedite rock scaling and slope stabilization activities in the area. Rock scaling activities have been in effect since early March after a large boulder fell onto U.S. Highway 50, blocking traffic in both directions. Caltrans used explosives to reduce the large boulder to pieces, permitting the highway to reopen. Caltrans is monitoring the slope around the clock until all scaling activities have been completed.
U.S. Highway 50 motorists should also be advised that one-way traffic control is in effect between Kyburz and Strawberry for vegetation removal following the devastating Caldor Fire in 2021. Motorists should expect travel delays in this area as well. Weather or unexpected events may delay or prolong the work.
District 3 is responsible for maintaining and operating 4,385 lane miles in 11 Sacramento Valley and Northern Sierra counties. Check out Caltrans' “
QuickMap” for current road conditions.
Motorists also can call the California Highway Information Network automated phone service at 1-800-427-ROAD (7623).
A member recently brought to our attention issues they were having with their International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) decals.
The issue had to do with the quality or lack thereof of the decals and more often than not, following their fleet of trucks being washed the decals would “unpeel” and fall from the truck. As you know, the decals have to be displayed on the vehicle and are valid for a calendar year.
CTA has reached out to management of the agency in California that administers the IFTA program, the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) to make them aware of the issue. The CDTFA is now tracking this issue to see if there are more examples of quality issues.
If you have encountered any quality issues with your IFTA decals let CTA know as we are working with CDTFA on tracking this issue. Send your comments to Eric Sauer at esauer@caltrux.org.
