CANADIAN WESTBOUND CONFERENCES RAISE RATES

CANADIAN WESTBOUND CONFERENCES RAISE RATES    The Continental Canadian Westbound Freight Conference and the Canadian North Atlantic Westbound Freight Conference said they would implement general rate increases of $150 per 20-foot container and $200 per 40-foot container, effective April 1.
   “Westbound markets continue to be strong, and these increases are part of a revenue restoration program that is needed in order to continue to provide customers with the services they require,” the conferences said in a statement.
   The conferences plan further increases for July 1, Oct. 1, and Jan. 1, 2004, as previously reported.
   The conferences’ members include Atlantic Container Line, Cast Group Services Ltd., Canada Maritime, Hapag-Lloyd Container Linie and Orient Overseas Container Line.