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Oward Improved Intermodal Freight Transport in Europe and the United States: Next Steps Toward Improved Intermodal Freight Transport in Europe and the United States: Next Steps Report of an Eno Transportation Foundation Policy Forum held November 18–20, 1998 Forum Sponsors: European Commission U.S. Department of Transportation Directorate-General VII (Transport) Office of Intermodalism and Federal Highway Administration Table of Contents Participants and Paper Authors ................................................................................... iv Preface ............................................................................................................................ v Forum Proceedings ........................................................................................................ 1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 1 Interoperability and Standardization ............................................................... 2 Standardization of Loading Units ............................................................................... 2 Standardization of Intermodal Information Systems ................................................ 3 Intermodal Liability Issues ................................................................................ 4 Current Liability Regimes............................................................................................ 4 Prospects for a New Liability Regime ......................................................................... 5 Liability and the Need for Information ...................................................................... 6 Legal and Regulatory Issues in Intermodal Transport .................................... 7 E.C. Regulation ............................................................................................................ 7 U.S. Regulation ............................................................................................................ 7 Cabotage ....................................................................................................................... 9 Third-Party Logistics Providers .................................................................................. 9 Open Access to Rail Facilities ..................................................................................... 9 Reregulation ............................................................................................................... 11 Best Practices in Intermodal Freight Transport ............................................ 11 Intermodal Rail Developments in Sweden ............................................................... 12 New International Rail Corridors ............................................................................. 12 Supply-Chain Management ....................................................................................... 12 Airship “Cargolifter” Service .................................................................................... 13 Port Investment Policies ............................................................................................ 14 Electronic Commerce and Intermodal Transport.................................................... 14 Toward Improved European and U.S. Intermodal Freight Transport: Next Steps ............................................. 15 Standardization .......................................................................................................... 15 European and U.S. Best Practices ............................................................................. 16 Electronic Commerce and Intermodal Freight Transport....................................... 16 The Role of Governments in Infrastructure Finance .............................................. 16 Liability ...................................................................................................................... 16 Article A: Interoperability in Intermodal Freight Transport ..................................................... 17 Article B: Intermodal Transportation and Carrier Liability...................................................... 33 Article C: U.S. Intermodalism: Cargo Liability Issues ................................................................ 41 Article D: Legal and Regulatory Issues Affecting Intermodalism in the European Union .................... 59 Article E: Legal and Regulatory Barriers to Better International Intermodal Transport ........ 69 Acronyms and Abbreviations ..................................................................................... 85 iii Participants and Paper Authors Forum Chairmen Mr. Rolf Hellberg Mr. Rune Svensson Dow Chemical, Germany Transport Advisor, Volvo Dr. Wim A.G. Blonk Transport Director, Transport Policy Mr. Juhani Korpela Development, Research and Secretary General, Ministry Mr. Karel Vanroye Development, European of Transport and Administrator, Unit for Commission, Directorate Communications, Finland Analysis and Transport General VII Policy Development Mr. Damian J. Kulash Mr. Kenneth Wykle President and CEO, Eno Mr. Riccardo Vitale Administrator, Federal Transportation Foundation Procter and Gamble Highway Administration, European Supply Company U.S. Department of Mr. Anders Lundberg Transportation Senior Vice President, Mr. Paul Wauters Swedish Railways Managing Director, Wauters Tanktransport N.V. Forum Participants Mr. Robert Martinez Assistant Vice President, Mr. David Winstead Mr. Richard Biter Marketing, Norfolk Secretary of Transportation, Deputy Director, Office of Southern Corporation Maryland Department of Intermodalism, U.S. Transportation Department of Ms. Mary Lou McHugh Transportation Assistant Deputy Under Mr. Peter J. Zantal Secretary of Defense, The Port Authority of New Mr. Thomas Brown U.S. Department of Defense York and New Jersey President, The Riss Companies Mr. James Morgan Mr. Edward Burkhardt Managing Director, TNT Chairman, President and Automotive Logistics Chief Executive Officer, Paper Authors Wisconsin Central Transpor- Mr. Thomas Perdue Ms. Regina Asariotis tation Corporation and Vice President, Intermodal, Lecturer, Institute of English Welsh and Scottish C.H. Robinson Co. Maritime Law, University of Railways Southampton Mr. Heinz Sandhager Mr. Franco Castagnetti Director General, Federal Mr. John Betak Director of Purchasing/ Ministry of Transport, Principal, Collaborative Logistics/Production Germany Solutions, Inc. Planning, Enichem/Polimeri Europa Mr. Bert Schacknies Mr. Vincent Power Senior Policy Advisor, Partner, A & L Goodbody Prof. Ralf De Wit Federal Highway Administra- University of Brussels tion, U.S. Department of Transportation Mr. Wolfgang Flick Forum Staff Vice President Transport, Mr. George Schoener Ms. Jennifer Clinger United Parcel Service, Europe Chief, Intermodal and Louis Berger International, Inc. Statewide Programs Mr. Johannes Fritzen Division, Federal Highway Mr. Ed Rosen President, Volkswagen Administration, U.S. Depart- Eno Transportation Transport ment of Transportation Foundation Mr. Robert Gallamore Mr. Otto Sonefeld Ms. Annemarie Schmalz Assistant Vice President, Program Director for Inter- Federal Ministry of Communications Technolo- modal Activities, American Transport, Germany gies, Transportation Association of State Highway Technology Center, Inc. Transportation Officials Ms. Birte Windhorst, Volkswagen Transport Mr. Dirk Goedhart Mr. Ron Stanley, President Consultant, Philips Landstar Express America International iv Toward Improved Intermodal Freight Transport in Europe and the United States: Next Steps Preface The growth of the global economy, ad- proved international intermodal transport; vances in information technologies, and often they do not. Each has a distinct and improved communications networks have valid interest in achieving improvements, contributed to major changes in transport and these improvements can only be and logistics. Just-in-time inventory sys- achieved through collective understanding tems, supply-chain management, and action. No one fully understands the outsourcing of logistics, and intermodal intermodal transport system, and no one transport have grown hand-in-hand with is empowered to manage its improvement: these advances in technology and eco- these are complex matters whose success- nomic interaction. Further economic ful resolution hinges on many indepen- growth demands that we continue to ad- dent private and public parties. Forums vance international intermodal transport. like the ones held in Washington and Intermodal transport—door-to-door ser- Munich can help to identify opportunities vices using more than one mode, but con- where individuals and groups can gain the tracted as a single service on a combined information and plan actions that lead to bill of lading—are a key ingredient of the collective improvement of the system. emerging global economy and new logistics We are pleased to have initiated this dis- environment. Intermodal transport not cussion and are gratified to see that it has only is rapid, reliable, customer-oriented, developed into the dynamic, productive dia- and efficient, but also makes effective use logue reported here. The discussion has of the existing infrastructure and can help focused attention on opportunities for im- provide needed transport without undue provement, on topics where more informa- environmental costs. Governments around tion is critically needed, and on emerging the world seek to reap the benefits possible developments where all partners must work through increased
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