By Randy Gordon, President and CEO In a statement filed on May 1 with the Surface Transportation Board (STB), the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) maintained it has committed to arbitrate commercial disputes involving rail demurrage and accessorial charges through NGFA’s Rail Arbitration System and other venues. In its statement to the STB, UP asserted that it “has agreed to arbitrate contested demurrage and accessorial charges using a number of commodity or mode-specific rules (e.g., the National Grain and Feed Association’s Rail Arbitration Rules, the Association of American Railroads’ ... Read More
Arbitration
NGFA publishes new arbitration decisions
The following decisions were published on May 1: Case No. 2815 - Attebury Grain, LLC v. US Commodities, LLC Case No. 2822 - Scoular Canada, Ltd. v. Logan Farms Ltd. For a full listing of arbitration decisions, visit the website. ... Read More
2019 Trade Rules booklets now available
The 2019 NGFA Trade Rules and Arbitration Rules Booklet now is available. The new booklet incorporates changes ratified in March during the business meeting at NGFA’s annual convention. Copies of the rules may be downloaded at ngfa.org. Printed copies of the booklet are available to NGFA members for $10 each for one to five copies, and $8 each for six or more. Non-members may obtain the booklet for $55 each; there is no quantity discount for non-members. For additional information, contact NGFA at 202-289-0873 or order online. ... Read More
Trade Rules Seminar to preview Barge Digital Transformation project
NGFA’s 2019 Trading, Trade Rules and Dispute Resolution Seminar (Trade Rules Seminar) will feature a special barge trade session focused on the new and currently underway Barge Digital Transformation project. This initiative launched last year in response to industry-generated demand to replace the current costly, cumbersome and outdated (paper- and FedEx-based) process to apply barges and transfer bills of lading. For about a year, a diverse coalition of companies in the industry have been working to develop a prototype digital system, which it widely is anticipated will be available ... Read More
Register now to save on NGFA’s Trade Rules Seminar
Offered only once every-other-year, NGFA’s 2019 Trading, Trade Rules and Dispute Resolution Seminar (Trade Rules Seminar) will be conducted May 6-7 at the Hilton St. Louis Airport Hotel, St. Louis, Mo. Register here by today – Friday, April 5 – to receive an early bird discount! NGFA’s Trade Rules Seminar provides attendees with a primer on contracting principles and trading practices designed to minimize costly trade disputes and contract non-performance. “[The Trade Rules Seminar] is a great way to really gain exposure to the trade rules and their application to what we use every ... Read More
NGFA membership ratifies arbitration rule changes
During the NGFA’s 123rd annual convention in Amelia Island, Fla., NGFA members ratified changes to arbitration rules voted on by the NGFA Board of Directors in September 2018. At the annual business meeting on March 19, NGFA members ratified amendments to the NGFA Arbitration Rules and NGFA Rail Arbitration Rules related to NGFA membership categories. Additionally, the amendments expand the Rail Arbitration Committee to accommodate additional members while maintaining the even split on the committee between railroads and rail customers. View more details about the ratified changes in the ... Read More
NGFA’s Trade Rules Seminar is May 6-7
Offered only once every other year, NGFA’s Trade Rules Seminar provides attendees with a primer on contracting principles and trading practices designed to minimize costly trade disputes and contract non-performance. NGFA’s 2019 Trading, Trade Rules and Dispute Resolution Seminar (Trade Rules Seminar) will be conducted May 6-7 at the Hilton St. Louis Airport Hotel, St. Louis, Mo. Register by April 5 to receive an early bird discount! WATCH: What is the NGFA Trade Rules Seminar? Designed for those involved in trading operations or responsible for merchandising grains, feed ... Read More
NGFA rail arbitration, mediation service available to resolve disputes
By Charlie Delacruz, Senior Vice President and General Counsel The Feb. 1 edition of the NGFA Newsletter contained an article about the availability of the widely respected and effective Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) Rail Customer and Public Assistance Office as an excellent venue that rail users can use – on a strictly confidential basis – to resolve a wide range of rail disputes with their carriers. Another too-often-overlooked forum is available through NGFA itself – the unique Rail Arbitration and Mediation Service that celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2018. ... Read More
Supreme Court decision favors arbitration access
By Charlie Delacruz, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary The U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 8 decided another case strongly in favor of access to arbitration for resolution of disputes involving commercial contracts. In the case – Henry Schein, Inc. v. Archer & White Sales, Inc., (No. 17-1272) – the Court rejected the “wholly groundless” exception used by some lower courts to preclude arbitration even if the parties had agreed in their contracts to have an arbitrator – not the court – decide whether their arbitration agreement applied to a particular ... Read More
Updated NGFA Trade Rules and Arbitration booklet available
The NGFA has published a new, updated version of its popular Trade Rules and Arbitration Rules booklet that is available now for purchase. The new booklet includes the latest changes ratified by the membership during the March convention. View the Trade Rules, Arbitration Rules, Rail Arbitration Rules and Bylaws changes here. These changes already are in effect, after having been approved previously by the Board of Directors. The new booklet also includes the changes to the Trade Rules regarding Canadian Official Weights that the Board approved during its meeting at the March convention. ... Read More
Lacy Holleman
National Grain and Feed Association
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