Today’s 10:00 AM Freight Pulse: New Shipping Law Changes Explained in Under 3 Minutes

The regulatory landscape just tightened. As of June 2026, the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has shifted from policy-making to aggressive enforcement of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act (OSRA) mandates, fundamentally altering how detention and demurrage (D&D) charges hit your bottom line.

The burden of proof has officially flipped. Shippers no longer need to prove a charge is "unreasonable"; instead, carriers and terminal operators must now provide documented evidence that their billing aligns with federal standards. For brands scaling through a 3PL Maryland hub, this means significant leverage against predatory storage fees during port congestion. If a carrier fails to justify a fee, the FMC is now authorized to order immediate refunds and slap on civil penalties.

Invoice compliance is the new battlefield. Every D&D invoice must now contain 13 specific data elements, including the exact date cargo was made available and the specific rule being applied. Missing even one of these details can nullify the entire charge. This level of granularity is designed to stop the "black box" billing practices that have plagued Mid-Atlantic fulfillment routes for years.

For growing brands, the takeaway is clear: transparency is your best defense. Lanta Logistics integrates these regulatory checkpoints into our warehousing and transportation workflows. By utilizing a Hazmat certified 3PL or a food-grade warehouse that tracks real-time SKU movements, you gain the data-driven audit trail necessary to contest unfair carrier practices. Don't let administrative errors at the port erode your margins.

Scale your operations with a partner that understands the law: contact Lanta Logistics today for structured, compliant supply chain execution.