9/22/03-A bill requiring marine terminals to ensure intermodal containers are not overweight or improperly loaded failed to pass the Legislature.
Under HB1662, an ocean marine terminal could be fined $500 if an intermodal container is loaded onto a chassis that puts more than 20,000 lbs. on an axle or 40,000 lbs. on a tandem.
The proposal would force terminal operators to weigh each intermodal container upon the container’s arrival at the terminal. Overweight containers may either be repacked at the port or returned to the sender.
In the event of repacking, the terminal operator is forced to pay a trucker $100 per hour that the container is detained. If a truck departs a terminal with an overweight container and is later stopped on route to its destination, the terminal operator will pay the trucker $100 per hour that the container is detained.
The bill was in the House Transportation Committee when lawmakers adjourned for the year in June.