Federal Maritime Commission Pursues Logistics Company for Freight Irregularities

The Federal Maritime Commission published a public notice on February 7, 2013 of an Order of Investigation and Hearing regarding United Logistics (LAX) Inc. (a Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier or NVOCC) alleging that the company did not charge its published tariff rates and accessing rates in services contracts. The order had been served in January. The order is a reminder of the FMC's significant regulatory involvement in ocean shipping and freight rates. Whatever the facts of the investigation ultimately show, the investigation itself highlights that careful regulatory rate compliance—here involving published tariffs and service agreements—matters.