ALASKA Posted 7/1/09

Alaska Fuel Surcharges Increase on Steamship and Barge Service

The steamship lines serving Alaska filed with the Surface transportation board (STB) for a fuel surcharge increase of two percent (2.00%) raising that fuel surcharge to 18.50%, effective on July 12, 2009.

Fuel surcharge for barge shipments to:
South Central Alaska is 16.50% effective on June 21, 2009
Southeast Alaska is 11.50% effective on June 29, 2009

There continue to be fuel surcharges assessed on motor carrier, intermodal and full trailer load linehaul transportation as well. In some cases these are flat charges per container, in others, they are stated as a percentage of freight charges. Every attempt will be made to update the rates on this site, based on receipt of filings from carriers. Each of our invoices will detail the fuel surcharge as a separate item, based on rates in effect at the time of the shipment.

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ALASKA, HAWAII Posted 6/24/09

Independence Day - Adjusted Hours

Alaska

The administrative and sales offices of American Fast Freight and their affiliated companies operating in Alaska will be closed on Friday, July 3rd to celebrate Independence Day. There will not be any change in the normal sailing schedule from Tacoma to Anchorage.

There will be partial operational crews working in Tacoma, Anchorage, Kenai and Fairbanks on Friday, July 3rd. We ask our Alaska shippers to attempt to get cargo to our Tacoma terminal by 4:30 PM on Thursday, July 2nd to allow for sufficient time to get it loaded for the Friday night sailing.

Hawaii

The Northwest operations and administrative office for Hawaiian Ocean Transport will be closed on Friday, July 3rd. The normal Sunday vessel departure from Seattle-Tacoma will be moved up one day, departing on Saturday, July 4th. Customers are asked to get cargo to our Tacoma receiving terminal by 4:00 PM on Thursday, July 2nd in order to make this earlier voyage.

The office and receiving terminal in San Leandro will be closed on Friday, July 3rd. There is no change in vessel departures.

Rancho Dominguez offices and operations will be closed on Friday, July 3rd. There is no change in the vessel departure schedules from the Port of Long Beach. To make sure there is sufficient time to receive and load cargo for the normal Friday night – Saturday morning sailing, customers are asked to get their cargo to the Rancho Dominguez terminal by 4:00 PM on Thursday, July 2nd.

If required, a limited amount of cargo can be handled by AFF/HOT on Friday, July 3rd but by appointment only.

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ALASKA Posted 6/23/09

Update on Barge Fuel Surcharges

The barge carriers serving Alaska recently filed for a fuel surcharge rate increase with the Surface Transportation Board (STB). The fuel surcharge for barge shipments to Southeast Alaska will increase by two percent (2.00%) bringing the charge to 11.50% effective June 29, 2009.

Fuel surcharge for barge shipments to:
South Central Alaska is 16.50% effective on June 21, 2009
Southeast Alaska is 11.50% effective on June 29, 2009

There continue to be fuel surcharges assessed on motor carrier, intermodal and full trailer load linehaul transportation as well. In some cases these are flat charges per container, in others, they are stated as a percentage of freight charges. Every attempt will be made to update the rates on this site, based on receipt of filings from carriers. Each of our invoices will detail the fuel surcharge as a separate item, based on rates in effect at the time of the shipment.

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ALASKA Posted 6/16/09

Barge Carriers Serving Alaska Raise Fuel Surcharge

The barge carriers serving Alaska recently filed for a fuel surcharge rate increase with the Surface Transportation Board (STB). The fuel surcharge for barge shipments to Central Alaska will increase by two percent (2.00%) bringing the charge to 16.50% effective June 21, 2009.

Fuel surcharge for barge shipments to:
South Central Alaska is 16.50% effective on June 21, 2009
Southeast Alaska is 9.50% effective on May 17, 2009

There continue to be fuel surcharges assessed on motor carrier, intermodal and full trailer load linehaul transportation as well. In some cases these are flat charges per container, in others, they are stated as a percentage of freight charges. Every attempt will be made to update the rates on this site, based on receipt of filings from carriers. Each of our invoices will detail the fuel surcharge as a separate item, based on rates in effect at the time of the shipment.

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ALASKA, HAWAII Posted 6/09/09

Kelly Promoted to President – Hawaiian Ocean Transport

Hawaiian Ocean Transport, Inc. (HOT) recently announced the appointment of Kevin Kelly to the position of President. Matt LePage, Chairman of the Board for Hawaiian Ocean Transport made the announcement. Hawaiian Ocean Transport is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Fast Freight. Prior to the promotion Kelly served as the General Manager for HOT.

Kelly has been with HOT from its formative year in 1990 and has been an integral part in their growth to over $50 million in revenue in 2008. In addition to his new duties as President, Kelly will continue to manage the sales departments in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Honolulu and Maui. Hawaiian Ocean Transport currently has receiving and distribution centers in Tacoma, WA, San Leandro and Rancho Dominguez, CA and in Honolulu Hawaii.

Hawaiian Ocean Transport engages primarily in ocean transport of virtually any type of cargo to Hawaii and Guam, including refrigerated and project cargo. In addition they operate a cold storage center in both Rancho Dominguez and Honolulu and handle airfreight and intra island shipments.

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ALASKA, HAWAII Posted 6/08/09

Carriers Serving Hawaii and Guam Increase Fuel Surcharge Dramatically

The carriers serving Hawaii and Guam recently filed for additional fuel surcharge rate increases with the Surface Transportation Board (STB). The fuel surcharge for shipments to Hawaii will increase by eight percent (8.00%) bringing the charge to 28.00% effective July 5, 2009. The same percentage increase will apply to shipments going to Guam, bringing that rate to 29.50% also effective on July 5, 2009.

Fuel surcharge for barge shipments to:
South Central Alaska is 14.50% effective on June 9, 2009
Southeast Alaska is 9.50% effective on May 17, 2009

There continue to be fuel surcharges assessed on motor carrier, intermodal and full trailer load linehaul transportation as well. In some cases these are flat charges per container, in others, they are stated as a percentage of freight charges. Every attempt will be made to update the rates on this site, based on receipt of filings from carriers. Each of our invoices will detail the fuel surcharge as a separate item, based on rates in effect at the time of the shipment.

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ALASKA, HAWAII Posted 6/04/09

Alaska Fuel Surcharges Increase on Steamship and Barge Service

The carriers serving Alaska recently filed for fuel surcharge rate increases with the Surface Transportation Board (STB). The steamship lines serving Alaska filed for a fuel surcharge increase of two percent (2.00%) raising that fuel surcharge to 16.50%, effective on June 21, 2009. The barge carriers filed for a two and one half percent (2.50%) increase raising that charge to 14.50%, effective June 9, 2009.

Fuel surcharge for barge shipments to:
South Central Alaska is 14.50% effective on June 9, 2009
Southeast Alaska is 9.50% effective on May 17, 2009


There continue to be fuel surcharges assessed on motor carrier, intermodal and full trailer load linehaul transportation as well. In some cases these are flat charges per container, in others, they are stated as a percentage of freight charges. Every attempt will be made to update the rates on this site, based on receipt of filings from carriers. Each of our invoices will detail the fuel surcharge as a separate item, based on rates in effect at the time of the shipment.

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ALASKA, HAWAII Posted 5/20/09

Carriers Serving Alaska Hawaii and Guam Increase Fuel Surcharge

The carriers serving Alaska, Hawaii and Guam recently filed for fuel surcharge rate increases with the Surface Transportation Board (STB). The fuel surcharge for shipments to Hawaii will increase by three and one half percent (3.50%) bringing the charge to 20.00% effective June 21, 2009. The same percentage increase will apply to shipments going to Guam, bringing that rate to 21.50% also effective on June 21, 2009.The carriers serving Alaska filed for a fuel surcharge increase of two percent (2.00%) raising that fuel surcharge to 14.50%, effective on May 31, 2009.

Fuel surcharge for barge shipments to:
South Central Alaska is 12.00% effective on February 4, 2009
Southeast Alaska is 9.50% effective on May 17, 2009

There continue to be fuel surcharges assessed on motor carrier, intermodal and full trailer load linehaul transportation as well. In some cases these are flat charges per container, in others, they are stated as a percentage of freight charges. Every attempt will be made to update the rates on this site, based on receipt of filings from carriers. Each of our invoices will detail the fuel surcharge as a separate item, based on rates in effect at the time of the shipment.

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ALASKA, HAWAII Posted 5/6/09

Alaska Southeast Barge Fuel Surcharge Increases

The barge lines serving Southeast Alaska recently filed for a fuel surcharge increase with the Surface Transportation Board (STB). The increase will be for two percent (2.00%), taking the rate to 9.50%, effective on all sailings on or after May 17, 2009.

Fuel surcharge for barge shipments to:
South Central Alaska is 12.00% effective on February 4, 2009
Southeast Alaska is 9.50% effective on May 17, 2009

There continue to be fuel surcharges assessed on motor carrier, intermodal and full trailer load linehaul transportation as well. In some cases these are flat charges per container, in others, they are stated as a percentage of freight charges. Every attempt will be made to update the rates on this site, based on receipt of filings from carriers. Each of our invoices will detail the fuel surcharge as a separate item, based on rates in effect at the time of the shipment.

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ALASKA Posted 5/1/09

Keep From Freezing Service Discontinues

The Northbound Sailing from Port of Tacoma to the Port of Anchorage on Friday, May 1, 2009 will be the last sailing for automatic Keep From Freezing (KFF) service. KFF service will be reinstated as weather conditions dictate on or about the end of September of this year.

Any customer wishing, for whatever reason, to continue having KFF service provided for their shipments beyond the sailing date above should contact our Customer Service Department at (800) 642-6664.

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ALASKA, HAWAII Posted 4/27/09

Hawaii-Guam Fuel Surcharges Increase

The carriers serving Hawaii and Guam recently filed with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) for an increase in the fuel surcharges to be applied. The increase is for one and one half percent (1.50%) in both markets. The icnrease raises the fuel surcharge to 16.50% for Hawaii and 18.00% for Guam. The increases will apply on all shipments sailing on and after May 24, 2009.

Fuel surcharge for barge shipments to:
South Central Alaska is 12.00% effective on February 4, 2009
Southeast Alaska is 7.50% effective on February 4, 2009

There continue to be fuel surcharges assessed on motor carrier, intermodal and full trailer load linehaul transportation as well. In some cases these are flat charges per container, in others, they are stated as a percentage of freight charges. Every attempt will be made to update the rates on this site, based on receipt of filings from carriers. Each of our invoices will detail the fuel surcharge as a separate item, based on rates in effect at the time of the shipment.

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ALASKA, HAWAII Posted 4/23/09

Alaska Carriers Raise Fuel Surcharges

Fuel surcharge for barge shipments to:
South Central Alaska is 12.00% effective on February 4, 2009
Southeast Alaska is 7.50% effective on February 4, 2009

There continue to be fuel surcharges assessed on motor carrier, intermodal and full trailer load linehaul transportation as well. In some cases these are flat charges per container, in others, they are stated as a percentage of freight charges. Every attempt will be made to update the rates on this site, based on receipt of filings from carriers. Each of our invoices will detail the fuel surcharge as a separate item, based on rates in effect at the time of the shipment.

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ALASKA, HAWAII Posted 4/21/09

Updating Fuel Surcharge Rates for Alaska-Hawaii-Guam

Fuel surcharge for barge shipments to:
South Central Alaska is 12.00% effective on February 4, 2009
Southeast Alaska is 7.50% effective on February 4, 2009

There continue to be fuel surcharges assessed on motor carrier, intermodal and full trailer load linehaul transportation as well. In some cases these are flat charges per container, in others, they are stated as a percentage of freight charges. Every attempt will be made to update the rates on this site, based on receipt of filings from carriers. Each of our invoices will detail the fuel surcharge as a separate item, based on rates in effect at the time of the shipment.

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ALASKA, HAWAII Posted 2/3/09

Update: Clean Truck Surcharge

After much debate and numerous delays, the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles have finally announced an effective date for fee collections. That will be February 18, 2009.The long debated “Clean Truck” initiative became effective on October 1, 2008 but actual collection of fees has been postponed numerous times until now. One aspect of this initiative which is designed to reduce carbon pollution in the port areas is to phase out older polluting trucks. The ports are going to subsidize the truck replacement program through revenues generated by imposing this surcharge on all containers moving in or out of the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles.

For shipments of full container loads, the surcharge will be $35.00 per TEU (twenty foot equivalent container), and $70.00 per 40 or 45 foot containers. As American Fast Freight / Hawaii Ocean Freight are domestic ocean freight forwarders, who consolidate multiple shippers’ cargo into ocean containers for transport, these new charges will have to be prorated to the individual shipment level for all customers’ less- than-container load (LCL) cargo. We believe the most equitable basis with the most transparency will be to show that container surcharge as a separate line item on our invoices as cents per cubic foot, based on the cubic displacement of each shipment. Our charge to our customers to process and pay these fees will be $.06 per cubic foot.

American Fast Freight supports the primary objective of this initiative – to dramatically reduce carbon emissions. However we still take issue with some of the restrictive licensing requirements which would seek to eliminate independent owner operators from the market.

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ALASKA, HAWAII Posted 2/3/09

Alaska Southeast Barge Fuel Surcharge Decreases

The barge carriers serving Southeast Alaska recently announced a three and one half percent (3.50%) decrease in their fuel surcharges on shipments to Southeastern Alaskan Cities. That lowers the surcharge to seven and one half percent (7.50%) effective on February 4, 2009.

Fuel surcharge for barge shipments to

Southeast Alaska is 7.50% effective on February 4, 2009.

There continue to be fuel surcharges assessed on motor carrier, intermodal and full trailer load linehaul transportation as well. In some cases these are flat charges per container, in others, they are stated as a percentage of freight charges. Every attempt will be made to update the rates on this site, based on receipt of filings from carriers. Each of our invoices will detail the fuel surcharge as a separate item, based on rates in effect at the time of the shipment.

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ALASKA, HAWAII Posted 1/23/09

Alaska Fuel Surcharge Increases

After a number of announced decreases in fuel surcharges, the carriers serving Alaska have announced an increase in their fuel surcharges. For Alaska shipments the fuel surcharge will be increased by one and one half percent (1.50%) to 11.50%, effective February 01, 2009. As there have been frequent changes, note summary of amounts and effective dates below:

Fuel surcharge for barge shipments to Southeast Alaska is 11.00%

effective on December 22, 2008.

There continue to be fuel surcharges assessed on motor carrier, intermodal and full trailer load linehaul transportation as well. In some cases these are flat charges per container, in others, they are stated as a percentage of freight charges. Every attempt will be made to update the rates on this site, based on receipt of filings from carriers. Each of our invoices will detail the fuel surcharge as a separate item, based on rates in effect at the time of the shipment.

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ALASKA, HAWAII Posted 12/19/08

Alaska Barge Fuel Surcharge Decreases

The carriers serving Alaska have announced an additional decrease in their fuel surcharges. For Alaska shipments the fuel surcharge will be reduced by two percent (2.00%) to 10.00%, effective December 21, 2008. As there have been frequent changes, note summary of amounts and effective dates below:

Fuel surcharge for barge shipments to Southeast Alaska will decrease by three percentage points (3.00%) from 14.00% to 11.00% effective on December 22, 2008.

There continue to be fuel surcharges assessed on motor carrier, intermodal and full trailer load linehaul transportation as well. In some cases these are flat charges per container, in others, they are stated as a percentage of freight charges. Every attempt will be made to update the rates on this site, based on receipt of filings from carriers. Each of our invoices will detail the fuel surcharge as a separate item, based on rates in effect at the time of the shipment.

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ALASKA, HAWAII Posted 12/11/08

Alaska Fuel Surcharge Decrease Again

The carriers serving Alaska have announced an additional decrease in their fuel surcharges. For Alaska shipments the fuel surcharge will be reduced by two percent (2.00%) to 10.00%, effective December 21, 2008. As there have been frequent changes, note summary of amounts and effective dates below:

Fuel surcharge for barge service into Southeastern Alaska,

will be at 14.00%, effective December 1, 2008.

There continue to be fuel surcharges assessed on motor carrier, intermodal and full trailer load linehaul transportation as well. In some cases these are flat charges per container, in others, they are stated as a percentage of freight charges. Every attempt will be made to update the rates on this site, based on receipt of filings from carriers. Each of our invoices will detail the fuel surcharge as a separate item, based on rates in effect at the time of the shipment.

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HAWAII Posted 12/09/08

Steamship Lines Announce Rate Increases
For Hawaii & Guam

The ocean carriers serving Hawaii and Guam have announced their General Rate Increase (GRI) filings with the Surface Transportation Board (STB). The increase on various handling fees and basic freight rates will be effective January 4, 2009 for Hawaii shipments and on February 1, 2009 for Guam shipments.

There are numerous inclusions in the GRI filing. The Terminal Handling Charge (THC) will be increased by $175.00 Westbound and $90.00 eastbound for both Hawaii and Guam. Base ocean rates will go up by a low of $125.00 per container to a high of about $225.00 per container for certain commodities. Carriers also intimate there may be increase in the wharfage charges later in the year.

Additionally the Port Authorities of Long Beach and Los Angeles will soon implement a Clean Truck Container Tax that will be a separate item in their rate filings with the Surface Transportation Board (STB). This “tax” will be $35.00 for every twenty foot container and $70.00 for every forty foot or larger containers. This equates to a charge of $.06 per cubic foot for less-than-container load (LCL) shipments.

An additional “infrastructure improvements” surcharge for Guam shipments will be effective sometime after March, 2009. This new fee is to subsidize the purchase of three gantry cranes to increase capacity at the port.

While rate increases are never popular, the dramatic decrease in the cost of fuel has more than offset these increases when viewed on a per container basis. Fuel surcharges in Hawaii are 15.00% at the time of this notice. That is down from a high of 42.25% just months ago, which lowers the cost by $1,200.00 to $1,500.00 per container based on commodity shipped.

As always Hawaiian Ocean Transport and American Fast Freight will do everything in their control to minimize the impact on our valued customers of these rate increases and additional surcharges.

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ALASKA, HAWAII Posted 12/01/08

Alaska Hawaii Fuel Surcharge Decrease Again

The carriers serving Alaska, Hawaii and Guam have announced an additional decrease in their fuel surcharges. For Alaska shipments the fuel surcharge will be reduced three percent (3.00%) to 12.00%, effective December 7, 2008. For Hawaii the decrease is four and one half percent (4.50%) to 15.00% effective on December 1, 2008. And for Guam the decrease is the same percentage to 16.50% effective December 1, 2008. As there have been frequent changes, note summary of amounts and effective dates below:

Fuel surcharge for barge service into Southeastern Alaska,

will be at 14.00%, effective December 1, 2008.

There continue to be fuel surcharges assessed on motor carrier, intermodal and full trailer load linehaul transportation as well. In some cases these are flat charges per container, in others, they are stated as a percentage of freight charges. Every attempt will be made to update the rates on this site, based on receipt of filings from carriers. Each of our invoices will detail the fuel surcharge as a separate item, based on rates in effect at the time of the shipment.

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ALASKA, HAWAII Posted 11/25/08

Alaska Barge Fuel Surcharge Decreases

The barge lines serving Alaska have announced an additional decrease in their fuel surcharges. For Southeastern Alaska barge shipments the fuel surcharge will be reduced three and one half percentage points (3.50%) to 14.00%, effective December 1, 2008. As there have been frequent changes, note summary of amounts and effective dates below:

Fuel surcharge for barge service into Southeastern Alaska,

will be at 14.00%, effective December 1, 2008.

There continue to be fuel surcharges assessed on motor carrier, intermodal and full trailer load linehaul transportation as well. In some cases these are flat charges per container, in others, they are stated as a percentage of freight charges. Every attempt will be made to update the rates on this site, based on receipt of filings from carriers. Each of our invoices will detail the fuel surcharge as a separate item, based on rates in effect at the time of the shipment.

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ALASKA, HAWAII Posted 11/20/08

Alaska Fuel Surcharge Decrease Again

The carriers serving Alaska have announced an additional decrease in their fuel surcharges. For Alaska shipments the fuel surcharge will be reduced a full five percentage points (5.00%) to 15.00%, effective November 23, 2008. As there have been frequent changes, note summary of amounts and effective dates below:

Fuel surcharge for barge service into Southeastern Alaska,

will be at 17.50%, effective November 17, 2008.

There continue to be fuel surcharges assessed on motor carrier, intermodal and full trailer load linehaul transportation as well. In some cases these are flat charges per container, in others, they are stated as a percentage of freight charges. Every attempt will be made to update the rates on this site, based on receipt of filings from carriers. Each of our invoices will detail the fuel surcharge as a separate item, based on rates in effect at the time of the shipment.

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