AgTC Agenda for 2026 – Events, Objectives, Challenges and Tasks
Subject to frequent change, as new challenges for ag exporter and importers arise.
AgTC members invited to convey new matters impacting ag shipping generally, or requests for individual AgTC member company assistance, to info@agtrans.org
A glimpse into our full plate, but these are not in any order of priority:
- AgTC-USDA Ag Shipper Workshops providing opportunity for face-to-face engagement of AgTC members with industry and government leaders
- Weekly Zoom Workshops, every Wednesday throughout the year providing the most timely means to stay current on challenges as they arise, with government and industry guests, well over 100 AgTC members each week.
- Gain Federal oversight of rail ramp functions, addressing rampant dysfunction leading to demurrage and detention charges. This will require resolving jurisdiction uncertainty between FMC and STB.
- Pursue enforcement of the Administrative Judge’s ruling to eliminate Box Rules – objective to alleviate artificial shortages of chassis, unfair costs for shippers, congestion and trade disruption at both marine terminals and inland rail ramps
- Regain effective FMC enforcement of its Rule on Detention and Demurrage Billing Requirements
- Advocate for an expanded Definition of “Reasonable Detention and Demurrage Practices”
- Assure the FMC continues to hold carriers to accept ag export (and import) cargo, even as overcapacity is leading carriers to try to avoid carrying
- Work with ports and terminals to improve through-put practices/efficiency and facilities expansion
- Encourage the FMC to engage in aggressive oversight; support Commissioners and FMC staff to self-initiate investigation of ocean carriers, and impose enforcement.
- Work to increase allowable truck weight limits nationwide, or, if necessary, state-by-state
- Join with other port stakeholders to oppose state mandates that render export through CA ports increasingly expensive and injurious to maritime trade.
- Frequent, brief updates on all developments relevant to ag cargo supply chain.
- Continue face-to-face engagement for AgTC members with the Presidents of all the ocean carriers serving the US.
- Participate in industry forums to advocate on behalf of the ag exporters and importers
- Support reefer shipping capacity expansion at select ports
- Gain additional empty container storage, at and near ports and marine and rail terminals
- Work with ocean and rail carriers to increase containers available in inland locations to load ag exports
- Prevent carriers from imposing VGM (Verified Gross Mass) requirements (where carrier requires exporter to certify the cargo weight and the carrier’s own container)
- Assist individual AgTC members resolve specific matters, requiring AgTC staff to intervene personally with ocean carrier and marine terminal senior management.
- Leading a national effort to freeze ERD -Earliest Return Date. This is part of the AgTC-MSC ERD Working Committee, which any AgTC member may join.
- Pursue digital Bills of Lading (eBL) to eliminate “lost” BL’s, and reduce cost dramatically
- Develop digital platform for predicting ERD and loading windows
- Provide opportunities for AgTC members to engage personally, face-to-face, with senior ocean carrier executives, to resolve industry-wide challenges.
- Engagement with all 5 FMC Commissioners and with senior FMC enforcement and compliance staff.
- Assure the AgTC Member Portal on the AgTC website contains useful and current information on the most pressing issues facing AgTC members, for instance an inventory of every carrier notice on longshore job actions.
- Conduct the largest annual national gathering addressing ag international transportation: 38th Annual Meeting, Tacoma, May 18-21, 2026
- Identify and support new inland cargo depots and rail or truck loading capacity.
- Provide speaking opportunities for AgTC members
- Conduct Annual AgTC Ocean Carrier Performance Survey – AgTC Members assess carrier performance in a variety of areas; results announced at AgTC Annual Dinner during the Annual Meeting.