Industry Insights

Cargo theft is huge problem, according to the FBI, causing $15 billion to $30 billion in losses annually in the United States. To combat this issue, law enforcement and insurance companies are luring thieves with the use of sting trailers, equipped with surveillance cameras and GPS tracking devices hidden both in the trailer and the inventory they contain. These sting trailers are parked at truck stops and warehouses across America, with authorities waiting to snare thieves in the act. For example, earlier this year, New Mexico state police and the National Insurance Crime Bureau used a trailer to try to […]

Reports coming out in the trade indicate that U.S. Gulf ports – from Florida to Texas – are experiencing increased import volumes of steel and project cargoes. This strong flow of project cargo is as a result of better economic conditions and a strong dollar, according to an article in the Journal of Commerce (JOC). Low oil and natural gas prices in Texas and Louisiana have fueled investment of tens of billions of dollars in building and expanding petrochemical and oil refining plants, which are comprised of components from all over the world, explained the JOC article. Additionally, population growth […]

Unified Registration System (URS) will begin a phased launch beginning December 12, 2015. See more at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) website. The Congressionally mandated Unified Registration System (URS) will begin a phased launch beginning December 12, 2015. A phased approach allows for the complexity of retiring old systems and unifying the regulatory structure for the industry. Here’s how this may affect you.

The U.S. Council for International Business (USCIB), the U.S. appointed national guaranteeing association for ATA Carnets, announced that the ATA Carnet processing fees will increase on February 1, 2016. The new pricing structure increases the basic fee tiers from four to six, allowing for more fee options based on a wider variety of general list values. All other ATA Carnet related fees will not increase; this includes the cost to obtain additional sets of counterfoils and vouchers, as well as the continuation sheet pricing. Please click here for a full list of ATA Carnet fees. Please do not hesitate to […]

As many of you are aware, CBP has published amendments to Part 113 (bond provisions) of the Customs Regulations. The changes take effect on December 14, 2015. While the bulk of the revisions are of a minor/technical nature, the modified provision for time allowed to file a new continuous bond in response to an “insufficiency letter” issued by the Revenue Division is of immediate concern to importers, brokers, and sureties. The provision in question, 19 C.F.R. § 113.13(c), has been modified to read: “CBP will periodically review each bond on file to determine whether the bond is adequate to protect […]