Sep 28, 2022
— Update from Asian Tigers China:
Xingang Port in mainland China has been placed into a COVID outbreak related lockdown effective immediately. This affects all shipments to and from Beijing and Tianjin. This lockdown will continue through the upcoming National Day holidays 1st – 10th October. We do not have any further official/government information on when lockdown may be lifted and service resumes. Furthermore, lack of port processing will cause a back-log which may take weeks to resolve.
May 3, 2022
— Each week, IAM sends an update on logistics issues to Department of Defense, GSA, and Department of State Personal Property representatives. The report is put together by Pasha. Below is last Friday’s edition of that weekly report.
Mar 2, 2022
— In February, the U.S. FMCSA issued new guidance designed to safely increase the future available pool of CDL-qualified drivers into the marketplace. The guidance permits third-party testers to administer the knowledge portion of the CDL, without a state examiner needing to be present.
Mar 2, 2022
— On February 4, Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and John Thune (R-SD), joined by 12 Senate co-sponsors, introduced the Senate companion to the House-passed Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021 (OSRA), H.R. 4996, which would improve fairness, establish boundaries and set metrics for fees often incurred by the household goods and global shipping community. IAM and other industry supporters were highlighted in the press release, which outlines the measures the legislation would take.
Feb 15, 2022
— The National Defense Transportation Association (NDTA) occasionally sends information of a broad transportation industry concern that IAM forwards for your use. The below message was provided to NDTA members for their consideration due to the mounting tensions with Russia.
Jan 5, 2022
— The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) issued three policy statements on December 29, 2021, that are intended to provide further guidance to shippers who are looking to bring complaints against shipping lines and terminal operators.
For many IAM members and international moving companies, it has been a challenging time dealing with the vessel and terminal operators here in the U.S. since the beginning of the pandemic. With this new guidance and the prospective passage of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, the U.S. Government is the closest it has been in a long time toward rebalancing more power toward shippers. IAM will continue to review this information further and provide updates.
Dec 8, 2021
— The FIDI Global Alliance (FIDI) and the International Association of Movers (IAM) are closely monitoring a set of measures proposed by the World Shipping Council1 to the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures.
These measures aimed at minimizing globally pest contamination of containers and their cargoes would ultimately be detrimental to the international moving industry by shifting the responsibility for the condition of an empty container to the ‘shipper’ who in many cases is the moving company on an international shipment. These measures would apply to all sea containers packed or empty.
IAM and FIDI are providing this information to their memberships to raise awareness regarding these proposed measures and provide available resources.
Even if the proposed measures are not adopted, national governments are committed to stopping the spread of invasive pests and new requirements are inevitable. While these requirements may not be adopted, movers worldwide should be prepared to take greater steps to prevent the spread of invasive pests.
Nov 16, 2021
— Yesterday, IAM joined 84 leading shipper-focused trade associations, requesting the FMC issue clarification on the forthcoming Container Excess Dwell Fee (CEDF), scheduled to be issued to ocean carriers by the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach beginning November 22nd. IAM shares the concern of other shipper-focused companies and associations, as the carriers have stated their intent to pass these charges through to the beneficial cargo owners (BCOs) and the broader shipper community.
May 6, 2021
— IAM President Charles White signed on to a joint letter to congressional leaders, urging them to reinstate the moving expense tax deduction effective Jan. 1 of this year, and also asked them to not increase corporate or individual tax rates at this time.
May 24, 2019
— This is the eighth in a series of op-eds that IAM is running to shed additional light on problems associated with privatizing the household goods program to a single source contractor.
May 17, 2019
— This is the seventh in a series of op-eds that IAM is running to shed additional light on problems associated with privatizing the household goods program to a single source contractor.
May 10, 2019
— This is the sixth in a series of op-eds that IAM is running to shed additional light on problems associated with privatizing the household goods program to a single source contractor.
May 3, 2019
— This is the fifth in a series of op-eds that IAM is running to shed additional light on problems associated with privatizing the household goods program to a single source contractor.
Apr 26, 2019
— This is the fourth in a series of op-eds that IAM is running to shed additional light on problems associated with privatizing the household goods program to a single source contractor.
Apr 19, 2019
— This is the third in a series of op-eds that IAM is running to shed additional light on problems associated with privatizing the household goods program to a single source contractor.
Apr 12, 2019
— This is the second in a series of op-eds that IAM is running to shed additional light on problems associated with privatizing the household goods program to a single source contractor.
Apr 5, 2019
— This is the first in a series of op-eds that IAM is running to shed additional light on problems associated with privatizing the household goods program to a single source contractor.
Mar 29, 2019
— USTRANSCOM Public Affairs published a press release highlighting GEN Lyons’ meeting with CEOs from various moving companies who support DoD household goods movement, and a separate meeting with moving industry trade associations. The press release is not an accurate account of the events of those meetings. Industry attendees believe the tone of the press release implied industry’s support to the general’s decision to award a contract to a single provider. To be clear, most of DoD’s current household goods service providers do not support this initiative.
— Chuck White and Brian Limperopulos host a panel discussion with Jim Wise and Bryan Vickers of Pace Consulting regarding preliminary election results and the possible impacts the election and other related political initiatives may have on the moving industry.
— As government instructions that restricted moves to exceptional cases expires on May 11, the French moving associations and Unions have published an industry directive for professional moving companies to return to work after that date.
— According to a decree adopted on March 9th by Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte restricting the ability to move across the country affected by COVID-19, freight is considered an economically viable activity and drivers are allowed to enter, exit and move goods in the designated quarantine areas for the purpose of transporting, loading and unloading of goods.
