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

The regulatory landscape just shifted, and your bottom line is in the crosshairs. Following the D.C. Circuit’s recent fallout from the World Shipping Council v. FMC decision, the rules for who gets billed for detention and demurrage have reverted to a "wild west" of contractual flexibility, even as strict invoice standards remain law.

The 30-Day Hard Line

Despite the court vacating the "who to bill" restriction, the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) is doubling down on enforcement for everything else. If your carrier or MTO doesn't issue a D&D invoice within 30 calendar days of the last charge, you are not required to pay. Period. This isn't a suggestion; it’s a statutory requirement under OSRA 2022 that survived the latest legal challenges.

Accuracy is Your Best Defense

Every invoice hitting your desk must now contain specific data elements: allowable free time, container availability dates, and a certified statement of compliance. If any of these are missing, the invoice is legally void. For growing brands using Mid-Atlantic fulfillment, this means your audit process just became your most valuable profit center.

Why Contracts Matter Now More Than Ever

Since the court removed the strict "contractual privity" limit on who can be billed, carriers are once again trying to cast a wider net for collections. You need a 3PL Maryland partner that understands how to insulate your brand. At our Glen Burnie warehouse, we manage these touchpoints with real-time visibility to ensure you aren't paying for carrier inefficiency or administrative errors.

Whether you’re running a food-grade warehouse operation or managing a Hazmat certified 3PL supply chain, compliance is the difference between scaling and stalling. Don't let billing technicalities eat your margins.

Takeaway: Audit every D&D invoice for the mandatory OSRA data elements and the 30-day timestamp: if they miss the mark, Lanta Logistics ensures you don't pay the price.