2018 US Code
Title 46 - Shipping
Subtitle IV - Regulation of Ocean Shipping
Part A - Ocean Shipping
Chapter 409 - Ocean Transportation Intermediaries
Sec. 40904 - Compensation by common carriers

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Citation 46 U.S.C. § 40904 (2018)
Section Name §40904. Compensation by common carriers
Section Text

(a) Certification of License and Services.—A common carrier may compensate an ocean freight forwarder for a shipment dispatched for others only when the ocean freight forwarder has certified in writing that it holds an ocean transportation intermediary's license (if required under section 40901 of this title) and has—

(1) engaged, booked, secured, reserved, or contracted directly with the carrier or its agent for space aboard a vessel or confirmed the availability of the space; and

(2) prepared and processed the ocean bill of lading, dock receipt, or other similar document for the shipment.


(b) Dual Compensation.—A common carrier may not pay compensation for services described in subsection (a) more than once on the same shipment.

(c) Beneficial Interest Shipments.—An ocean freight forwarder may not receive compensation from a common carrier for a shipment in which the ocean freight forwarder has a direct or indirect beneficial interest. A common carrier may not knowingly pay compensation on that shipment.

(d) Limits on Authority of Conference or Group.—A conference or group of two or more ocean common carriers in the foreign commerce of the United States that is authorized to agree on the level of compensation paid to an ocean freight forwarder may not—

(1) deny a member of the conference or group the right, upon notice of not more than 5 days, to take independent action on any level of compensation paid to an ocean freight forwarder; or

(2) agree to limit the payment of compensation to an ocean freight forwarder to less than 1.25 percent of the aggregate of all rates and charges applicable under a tariff and assessed against the cargo on which the services of the ocean freight forwarder are provided.

Source Credit

(Pub. L. 109–304, §7, Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1539.)

Editorial Notes
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large)
40904 46 App.:1718(e). Pub. L. 98–237, §19(e), Mar. 20, 1984, 98 Stat. 88; Pub. L. 105–258, title I, §116, Oct. 14, 1998, 112 Stat. 1912.

In this section, the words "ocean freight forwarder" are substituted for "ocean transportation intermediary, as defined in section 1702(17)(A) of this Appendix" and "ocean transportation intermediary" because the definition of "ocean transportation intermediary" in section 1702(17)(A) contains a definition of "ocean freight forwarder" which is restated as a separate definition.

In subsection (d)(1), the word "calendar" is omitted as unnecessary.

Publication Title United States Code, 2018 Edition, Title 46 - SHIPPING
Category Bills and Statutes
Collection United States Code
SuDoc Class Number Y 1.2/5:
Contained Within Title 46 - SHIPPING
Subtitle IV - Regulation of Ocean Shipping
Part A - Ocean Shipping
CHAPTER 409 - OCEAN TRANSPORTATION INTERMEDIARIES
Sec. 40904 - Compensation by common carriers
Contains section 40904
Date 2018
Laws In Effect As Of Date January 14, 2019
Positive Law Yes
Disposition standard
Statutes at Large References 98 Stat. 88
112 Stat. 1912
120 Stat. 1539
Public Law References Public Law 98-237, Public Law 105-258, Public Law 109-304
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