Bill Overview
Title: FREIGHT Act
Description: 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.
Sponsors: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
Target Audience
Population: individuals worldwide reliant on global supply chains
Estimated Size: 330000000
- The bill targets the intermodal shipping industry, including ports and related logistics.
- Ports are essential for global supply chains, impacting importers, exporters, and manufacturers worldwide.
- Global consumer markets relying on imported goods may experience changes in product availability and pricing.
- Supply chain workers and businesses involved in manufacturing and retail sectors worldwide may face indirect effects due to changes in shipping efficiencies.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily affects people involved in logistics and shipping industries, particularly at and around ports. These would include port workers, truckers, logistics managers, and business owners reliant on import/export activities.
- The policy also indirectly affects consumers and businesses nationwide who rely on imported goods, suggesting a broad but varied impact on wellbeing.
- Budget constraints imply that only so many initiatives can be funded, and only certain ports and infrastructures might benefit significantly, hence the uneven impact on wellbeing across different geographies and sectors.
- A significant portion of the U.S. economy is impacted by port efficiencies, making the target population large, but the impact per individual might be low to moderate due to the indirect nature of these changes.
Simulated Interviews
Port Worker (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy might improve operations if data and mediation actually resolve bottlenecks.
- I hope it leads to more systematic upgrades and better working conditions, but I'm skeptical.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Logistics Manager (Houston, TX)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Efficient ports mean fewer headaches for me at work and probably lower costs.
- The focus on data-sharing is promising, if it can actually be implemented smoothly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Truck Driver (Seattle, WA)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Anything that reduces wait times is good for my income.
- Sharing data sounds complicated - is this going to mean more work for me?
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Retail Business Owner (New York, NY)
Age: 51 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If shipping is more efficient, it could lower my costs or improve inventory timeliness.
- However, small businesses often see downstream effects last.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Supply Chain Analyst (Miami, FL)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Better data from the ports could vastly improve our planning and reduce costs.
- It's all about how well the policy is implemented and maintained.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 6 |
Freight Broker (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improved port operations could significantly simplify my job and reduce overhead.
- Optimizing chassis and container usage is a crucial step.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Port Authority Executive (Baltimore, MD)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policy should create smoother operations if executed properly.
- It will be a challenge to coordinate and mediate stakeholders.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Consumer (Chicago, IL)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I might not notice a difference since I'm removed from port operations.
- If this lowers costs or improves availability a lot, it could impact me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Chassis Pool Manager (Savannah, GA)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If the study improves our pool management, it will be a boon for us.
- We face a lot of challenges keeping everything on schedule, and this might help.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Importer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any reduction in shipping delays is beneficial for my business.
- Policy implementation can be slow and may not show material results quickly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 2: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 3: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 5: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 10: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 100: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Key Considerations
- The implementation of data-sharing capabilities must respect privacy and competitive concerns among stakeholders.
- The effectiveness of mediation services depends on the perceived impartiality and competence of the FMC.
- Port technologies and workforce training will be critical to realize efficiencies.