The New York-based entity formerly known as Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. has accused France-based ocean carrier CMA CGM of charging “unjust and unreasonable” demurrage and detention fees during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a complaint filed Sept. 2 with the Federal Maritime Commission.

Vietnam-based Southern International Co. (SIC) has accused Daynamez Group of Companies of Fairfax, Virginia, of failing to reserve cargo space with carriers despite receiving full payment of more than $2.4 million to do so for 558 containers, according to a complaint filed Aug. 26 with the Federal Maritime Commission.

The Federal Maritime Commission is revoking exemptions for several carriers that had allowed them to impose new rates, charges, classifications, rules or regulations with less than the commission’s required 30 days’ notice. The action applies to certain controlled carriers -- vessel-operating common carriers owned or controlled by a foreign government -- because they have been removed from the FMC’s list of controlled carriers “over the years.” The agency said they either no longer offer “carriage in the U.S. trades” or have since been bought by private companies.

A Federal Maritime Commission small claims officer on Aug. 7 dismissed a complaint against New Jersey-based Citi Freight Logistics (CFI) and Best International Cargo (BIC) of Canada, saying HP Logistics (HPL) failed to show that the firms engaged in unfair charging practices for dismantling and shipping an excavator from Tennessee to Vietnam.

International Wood Group (IWG) and Honest Trading International accused DB Schenker, a non-vessel operating common carrier and freight forwarder, of mismanaging five of their shipments since last year, causing them to incur “substantial” financial losses and hurting their ability to do business, according to a complaint filed with the Federal Maritime Commission Aug. 5.

Florida-based Worldwide Nexus Logistics has accused ocean carrier Wallenius Wilhelmsen of losing possession of three boats it was supposed to ship from the U.S. to Chile, according to a complaint filed with the Federal Maritime Commission in late July.

Global air cargo volumes grew 5% year-over-year in July as shippers may have sought to front load goods ahead of U.S. tariff deadlines or expedite shipping amid market uncertainties, said Xeneta, a Norway-based freight rate market analytics firm. The company thinks this means "more shippers opted for the speed of airfreight to help circumvent U.S. tariffs."

Way2Go Cargo, a Florida-based freight forwarder, has accused two people who were affiliated with the company of violating the Shipping Act by running a competing business without obtaining a required license from the Federal Maritime Commission, according to a complaint filed with the FMC July 25.

A Government Accountability Office report released July 23 recommends that the Department of Transportation office handling multimodal freight infrastructure get better at identifying infrastructure needs and policy changes that affect the air cargo movements.

Although potential reciprocal tariff increases have been pushed back to Aug. 1, ocean spot rates between Asia and the U.S. West Coast have been falling, suggesting a relaxation in demand for shipping containers, according to two companies tracking ocean rates.