Insights - June 2015 - (Page 8)

mulled in Florida (S.B. 1554), Illinois (S.B. 1390, with S.R. 233 opposing a weight limit increase), Michigan (H.B. 4257, S.B. 168 and S.B. 274), Mississippi (H.B. 129), Missouri (H.C.R. 48), South Carolina (H.R. 3789), Tennessee (H.B. 686 and S.B. 817) and Texas (H.B. 2085, H.B. 3722, S.B. 1059 and S.B. 1424). Measures aiming at enhancing trade and transportation opportunities are being considered in several statehouses, including in Arkansas (H.B. 1258), California (S.B. 63), Connecticut (S.B. 938), Florida (H.B. 257), New Jersey (A.B. 4028 and S.B. 2739), New York (S.B. 2648) and Pennsylvania (S.B. 224). Find complete information on the status of state legislation impacting intermodal freight transportation at www.intermodal.org under the "State Legislative/Regulatory Activities" subtab beneath the "Industry Issues" tab. Freight Reports Imports Hit Record as Backlog Clears Import volume at leading U.S. containerports has risen to an all-time high as backlogs clear at West Coast ports. According to the May 8 Global Port Tracker report from the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates, the nation's top containerports combined to handle a record 1.73 million twentyfoot-equivalent units of import containers in March, driven by a sudden surge of backlogged cargo from vessels that had been sitting at anchor waiting to be discharged after labor dispute resolution. "Dockworkers and management made a massive push to clear the backlog of cargo..." - Jonathan Gold, vice president, National Retail Federation This March's import volume was up 44.9 percent from February and up 33.1 percent from March 2014. The Pacific Maritime Association and International Longshore and Warehouse Union tentatively agreed on a five-year contract in February, and their memberships respectively ratified the deal May 20 and 22. The lack of a contract and operational issues led to crisis-level congestion at West Coast ports after the previous agreement expired last July. "Dockworkers and management made a massive push to clear the backlog of cargo over the past several weeks and West Coast ports are getting back to normal despite concerns such as the Teamster picketing seen in Los Angeles and Long Beach earlier this month," Jonathan Gold, NRF's vice president for supply chain and customs policy, said May 8. 8 Intermodal Insights | June 2015 http://www.intermodal.org http://www.imccompanies.com http://www.imccompanies.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Insights - June 2015

Contents
Federal update
Short-Term Fix Seen for Highways
Proposal Targets Port Performances
Silver Kingpin Award Ballots Due
Spring Business Meeting Focuses on Industry Solutions
IANA Launches Webpage for Scholarship Program
Intermodal EXPO 2015 to Offer Robust Educational Agenda
Equipment Out-of-Service Data to Undergo Expanded Analysis
State Legislative Update
N.J. in Compact, at Least for Now
Freight Report
Yearly Traffic Chart
Sustainability News
Port News
People in the News
In Brief
2015 Sponsors
New Members
Audit Examining FMCSA Processes
Industry Calendar

Insights - June 2015