PCC EAGER TO PUSH FMC TO EXEMPT NVOS FROM TARIFF FILING

PCC EAGER TO PUSH FMC TO EXEMPT NVOS FROM TARIFF FILING    The Pacific Coast Council of Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Associations is preparing to make a big push with the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission to end tariff filing for non-vessel-operating common carriers.
   “We ought to move forward and do it,” said Peter Friedmann, PCC Counsel, to a group of forwarding executives at the Western Cargo Conference in Palm Springs, Calif. “What’s there to lose at this point?”
   Many executives at the conference expressed their disappointment in the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America’s failure to move quickly on this issue.
   NVOs said the practice of filing tariffs, which is required for the industry under the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, is costly and unfair. Executives also cited the difficulty in keeping their tariffs up-to-date, especially when the ocean carriers continue to heap on new surcharges.