§1707. Tariffs

(a) In general

(1) Except with regard to bulk cargo, forest products, recycled metal scrap, waste paper, and paper waste, each common carrier and conference shall file with the Commission, and keep open to public inspection, tariffs showing all its rates, charges, classifications, rules, and practices between all points or ports on its own route and on any through transportation route that has been established. However, common carriers shall not be required to state separately or otherwise reveal in tariff filings the inland divisions of a through rate. Tariffs shall-

(A) state the places between which cargo will be carried;

(B) list each classification of cargo in use;

(C) state the level of ocean freight forwarder compensation, if any, by a carrier or conference;

(D) state separately each terminal or other charge, privilege, or facility under the control of the carrier or conference and any rules or regulations that in any way change, affect, or determine any part or the aggregate of the rates or charges; and

(E) include sample copies of any loyalty contract, bill of lading, contract of affreightment, or other document evidencing the transportation agreement.

(2) Copies of tariffs shall be made available to any person, and a reasonable charge may be assessed for them.

(b) Time-volume rates

Rates shown in tariffs filed under subsection (a) of this section may vary with the volume of cargo offered over a specified period of time.

(c) Service contracts

An ocean common carrier or conference may enter into a service contract with a shipper or shippers' association subject to the requirements of this chapter. Except for service contracts dealing with bulk cargo, forest products, recycled metal scrap, waste paper, or paper waste, each contract entered into under this subsection shall be filed confidentially with the Commission, and at the same time, a concise statement of its essential terms shall be filed with the Commission and made available to the general public in tariff format, and those essential terms shall be available to all shippers similarly situated. The essential terms shall include-

(1) the origin and destination port ranges in the case of port-to-port movements, and the origin and destination geographic areas in the case of through intermodal movements;

(2) the commodity or commodities involved;

(3) the minimum volume;

(4) the line-haul rate;

(5) the duration;

(6) service commitments; and

(7) the liquidated damages for nonperformance, if any.

The exclusive remedy for a breach of a contract entered into under this subsection shall be an action in an appropriate court, unless the parties otherwise agree.

(d) Rates

No new or initial rate or change in an existing rate that results in an increased cost to the shipper may become effective earlier than 30 days after filing with the Commission. The Commission, for good cause, may allow such a new or initial rate or change to become effective in less than 30 days. A change in an existing rate that results in a decreased cost to the shipper may become effective upon publication and filing with the Commission.

(e) Refunds

The Commission may, upon application of a carrier or shipper, permit a common carrier or conference to refund a portion of freight charges collected from a shipper or to waive the collection of a portion of the charges from a shipper if-

(1) there is an error in a tariff of a clerical or administrative nature or an error due to inadvertence in failing to file a new tariff and the refund will not result in discrimination among shippers, ports, or carriers;

(2) the common carrier or conference has, prior to filing an application for authority to make a refund, filed a new tariff with the Commission that sets forth the rate on which the refund or waiver would be based;

(3) the common carrier or conference agrees that if permission is granted by the Commission, an appropriate notice will be published in the tariff, or such other steps taken as the Commission may require that give notice of the rate on which the refund or waiver would be based, and additional refunds or waivers as appropriate shall be made with respect to other shipments in the manner prescribed by the Commission in its order approving the application; and

(4) the application for refund or waiver is filed with the Commission within 180 days from the date of shipment.

(f) Form

The Commission may by regulation prescribe the form and manner in which the tariffs required by this section shall be published and filed. The Commission may reject a tariff that is not filed in conformity with this section and its regulations. Upon rejection by the Commission, the tariff is void and its use is unlawful.

( Pub. L. 98–237, §8, Mar. 20, 1984, 98 Stat. 74 .)

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 1704, 1707a, 1708, 1709, 1719 of this Appendix.