Today’s 11:00 AM Freight Pulse: New Shipping Law Changes Explained in Under 3 Minutes

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) is officially tightening the screws. New billing rules under the Ocean Shipping Reform Act (OSRA) are now live, and failing to understand them means leaving money on the table. For growing brands and enterprises, these regulatory shifts represent a major opportunity to claw back margins from administrative billing errors.

The New "Must-Haves" for Invoices

The most significant change centers on demurrage and detention (D&D) billing. Every invoice must now include specific "minimum information" data points: shipment identifiers, the specific dates for which the charges apply, and the exact rate basis used. If a carrier or NVOCC issues a bill missing even one of these elements, it is legally unenforceable. For businesses utilizing Mid-Atlantic fulfillment, this level of transparency is essential to maintaining lean operations and preventing unexpected cost spikes during peak season.

Legal Shifts and Enforcement

On the legal front, the D.C. Circuit recently issued a decision that partially vacated one provision of the FMC rule, but don’t be misled: the core of OSRA remains the law of the land. The FMC has proactively hired additional Administrative Law Judges to accelerate enforcement proceedings. This signals a permanent shift toward high-accountability logistics. Shippers now have the legal teeth to challenge "unreasonable refusal to deal" and predatory billing practices that have long plagued the industry.

Local Impact at the Port of Baltimore

Locally, the impact is already being felt at the Port of Baltimore. At our Glen Burnie warehouse, we’ve integrated these new compliance standards into our inbound audit processes. Whether you require a food-grade warehouse for sensitive inventory or a Hazmat certified 3PL for specialized chemicals, your logistics partner must be an expert in both the physical move and the legal framework. Integrating your supply chain with a partner like Lanta Logistics ensures your 3PL Maryland operations stay ahead of the curve.

Don’t let administrative errors drain your profitability: scale your business with the precision and legal oversight of Lanta Logistics. Contact us today to secure your supply chain.