FMC Enforcement Explained in Under 3 Minutes: Today’s 13:00 Freight Pulse

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) is officially through with warnings, recently handing out record-shattering fines like the $22.67M penalty against MSC for deceptive billing practices. This aggressive shift signals a new era where the FMC acts more like a consumer protection agency for shippers than a passive regulator.

The New Era of Enforcement

The MSC and OOCL cases prove that even unintentional billing errors in Demurrage and Detention (D&D) are now treated as unlawful practices. Under the latest OSRA guidelines, each day a tariff remains inaccurate or ambiguous can be treated as a separate violation. This means the financial risk for carriers: and the potential for recovery for shippers: has never been higher.

Victory Over Port-Closed Fees

A landmark ruling against Evergreen, upheld by the D.C. Circuit, confirms that carriers cannot charge detention on days when ports are closed and equipment cannot be returned. For brands utilizing Mid-Atlantic fulfillment hubs, this provides critical legal leverage to eliminate "junk fees" that have historically bloated the bottom line. If the terminal is shut, the billing clock must stop.

Compliance Through Data

For a 3PL Maryland leader like Lanta Logistics, compliance is built into the tech stack. Whether you are running a food-grade warehouse operation or managing a Hazmat certified 3PL supply chain, real-time visibility is your only defense against carrier billing discrepancies. Our FlowOps platform tracks container milestones with precision, creating the audit trail needed to challenge unfair charges.

Operating out of our Glen Burnie warehouse, we bridge the gap between port congestion and efficient delivery. By maintaining enterprise-level standards and structured performance, we ensure your brand isn't footing the bill for carrier inefficiencies or regulatory oversight.

Stop overpaying for carrier errors and scale your operations with a partner that delivers reliable, performance-driven logistics.