DOT EXTENDS DEADLINE FOR AIR-FREIGHT RATE COMMENTS

DOT EXTENDS DEADLINE FOR AIR-FREIGHT RATE COMMENTS    The U.S. Department of Transportation has agreed to a request from several shipper organizations for a 90-day extension for the comment period on a petition by international airlines to change how they set freight rates.
   In early February, the International Air Transport Association filed papers requesting to change the regulated formulas for calculating rates based on a shipment's density.
   The High Tech Airfreight Shippers Coalition, the National Industrial Transportation League, the Health & Personal Care Logistics Conference and the National Small Shipments Traffic Conference asked DOT to extend the normal 21-day comment period.
   The DOT said the complexity of the issues raised by IATA's application warranted extra time to thoroughly review the matter.
   The new deadline for submitting responses is May 29.