NCBFAA WINS NEW RULE FROM FMC

NCBFAA WINS NEW RULE FROM FMC    Under a new rule issued by the Federal Maritime Commission, ocean    transportation intermediaries operating as both freight forwarders and    non-vessel-operating common carriers will need only one employee to oversee    those functions.
   Under the old system, such firms were required to employ two persons for such activities.
   The FMC acted in response to a request put forth last year by the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America.
   The new rule will reduce regulatory burdens and provide savings to firms that would have otherwise been required to change their business structures, the FMC said.
   The ruling will affect approximately 600 OTIs with affiliated forwarding and NVO operations, the FMC said.
   The rule take effect in mid-April.