FREIGHT Act

Bill: 117-s-3262
Sponsor: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
Introduced: 2021-11-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Advisory bodies
Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
Business records
Civil actions and liability
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Computers and information technology
Consumer affairs
Department of Transportation
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal Maritime Commission
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Licensing and registrations
Marine and inland water transportation
Motor carriers
Motor vehicles
Navigation, waterways, harbors
Performance measurement
Railroads
State and local government operations
Transportation employees
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-18
text: 

Facilitating Relief for Efficient Intermodal Gateways to Handle Transportation Act or the FREIGHT Act

 
This bill makes multiple changes to address the efficiency of ports and the intermodal shipping of cargo.
 
The Department of Transportation (DOT) must undertake actions related to data-sharing and communication, including by supporting efforts to standardize terms used in port operations. Additionally, DOT must collect and publish information about the performance of recipients that received grants to improve port infrastructure.
 
Further, DOT's Bureau of Transportation Statistics must publish data about the dwell time of marine shipping containers and chassis (i.e., the quantity of time such equipment is subject to maintenance versus in use). The bill also requires a study on best practices for operating a chassis pool to optimize supply chains.
 
In addition, the bill modifies duties and authorities of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), including by
 
 
providing statutory authority for an office that offers mediation and related services to resolve issues under the FMC's jurisdiction;
 
allowing the FMC to order refunds in certain enforcement proceedings; and
 
authorizing the FMC to expand data-sharing between port operators, shippers, and other stakeholders to facilitate efficient freight operations if the FMC determines port congestion constitutes an emergency.
 
 
Other matters addressed in the bill include (1) expanding prohibitions for certain retaliatory or discriminatory conduct; (2) making permanent a COVID-19 waiver that modified training and testing procedures for commercial driver's licenses; and (3) increasing the number of members on the Railroad-Shipper Transportation Advisory Council.

action_date: 2022-12-12
text: 

Facilitating Relief for Efficient Intermodal Gateways to Handle Transportation Act or the FREIGHT Act

 
This bill makes multiple changes to address the efficiency of ports and the intermodal shipping of cargo.
 
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics of the Department of Transportation must publish data about the dwell time of marine shipping containers and chassis (i.e., the quantity of time such equipment is subject to maintenance versus in use). The bill also requires a study on best practices for operating a chassis pool to optimize supply chains.
 
In addition, the bill modifies duties and authorities of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), including by
 
 
providing statutory authority for an office that offers mediation and related services to resolve issues under the FMC's jurisdiction; and
 
authorizing the FMC to expand data-sharing between port operators, shippers, and other stakeholders to facilitate efficient freight operations if the FMC determines port congestion constitutes an emergency.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-12-12
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 625.
action_date: 2022-12-12
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2022-12-12
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2022-03-22
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
action_date: 2021-11-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2021-11-18
text: Introduced in Senate