USA Carrier’s Haulage Demurrage and Storage Update

As a follow up to our letter sent 27 October 2020, we would like to provide you with an update on our policy regarding import storage / demurrage in the U.S.

Hapag-Lloyd announced in this letter that if our customers were able to satisfy the below requirements five calendar days before the expiration of free time, they would not be responsible for import storage and demurrage related to truck power delays as this would allow us to secure timely trucking appointments and keep cargo flowing.

• Original Bill of Lading (if applicable) received by carrier.
• Credit or freight payment received by carrier.
• DO: Complete Delivery Order/instructions from the customer received by carrier.
• Customs clearance received with no other regulatory restrictions.
• Customer facility is able to receive the container within the designated free time.

We are now in a situation where we can no longer continue this policy for import carrier haulage door moves in the New York, New Jersey, Chicago and Kansas City markets, given the ongoing industry wide truck power situation in these locations.

In these specific markets, for containers gating in full at origin on or after May 15th 2021, customers that choose to have Hapag-Lloyd perform carriers haulage will need to guarantee storage prior to picking up their container(s) – no additional demurrage or detention will apply. For Kansas City and Chicago, customers will guarantee storage directly with the Rail provider whereas for New York and New Jersey, customers will guarantee the storage with Hapag-Lloyd.

For containers that gated in prior to May 15th, the former policy will continue to apply. We are providing advance notice of this change to allow customers the opportunity to choose to book on a merchant haulage basis to these markets if this option is preferred. Customers may also change shipments to merchant haulage with no change fee.

This policy change does not apply to other markets and we will continually monitor the truck capacity situation in each market and adjust our policy as required.

Please contact your local Hapag-Lloyd Customer Service Import Team if you have any questions.