SURFACE Transportation Board (STB) chairman, Mr Martin Oberman, has written to all North American Class 1 railways expressing concern over persistent problems with congestion in the intermodal supply chain. He has asked all Class 1s to provide certain information about the extent of congestion at key container terminals as well as policies and practices for assessing storage charges. “The board’s principal concerns are helping to mitigate the congestion problems at intermodal yards caused by the unprecedented economic situation, improve network fluidity, and provide relief to shippers and receivers who are not in a position to reasonably avoid onerous and potentially business-threatening storage charges,” Oberman says. Oberman is also concerned about “significant” container storage fees that some shippers are being forced to pay to receive their containers. The STB says Oberman’s request is designed to help the board better understand the seriousness of the congestion problem, the purpose and effect of the storage fees and whether receivers are afforded relief should they lack the ability to facilitate the release of their containers. “The board has received numerous reports related to the length of time that containers are being held in rail yards, and the sizeable storage fees some customers have been required to pay in order to obtain release of containers bearing their shipments,” Oberman says. “The board’s principal concerns are helping to mitigate the congestion problems at intermodal yards caused by the unprecedented economic situation, improve network fluidity, and provide relief to shippers and receivers who are not in a position to reasonably avoid onerous and potentially business-threatening storage charges.”