Association of Bi-State Motor Carriers

06/05/2026

Spotted at yesterday's NJ Senate Budget Committee: while witnesses were still actively testifying about the need to protect independent contractors from the NJDOL's disastrous approach to worker classification, AFL-CIO Legislative Affairs Director Eric Richard gets up from the gallery and walks behind the dais like he owns the place (surprising Chairman Sarlo into temporarily halting the hearing) to confer with Senator Linda Greenstein before her vote on the bill. She ends up being the only legislator to abstain "because of the union testimony."

06/05/2026

UPDATE on PNCT Tariff Notice: See announcement below from PNCT regarding their upcoming Tariff enforcement for certain Trouble Tickets, HazMat Exports, and HazMat Documents.

The fees previously announced will not be charged until July 13th.

Instead, there will be a notification period (June 15-July 10) where charges will not be assessed, but drayage providers will be advised if they have been issued a trouble ticket that would have been subject to the charge. No charges will be assessed on HazMat cargo or incorrect/incomplete HazMat paperwork during that time period as well.

06/05/2026

For those inquiring about potential holiday hours for Independence Day, we're hearing that all NY/NJ Marine Terminals will be open for regular business hours on Friday, July 3rd and Monday, July 6th. The holiday will be observed on Saturday, which doesn't impact truck gates.

05/29/2026

We’re getting reports of excessive traffic backups along Doremus potentially impacting the area around Port Newark Depot due to an anti-ICE protest at Delaney Hall. Please be guided accordingly.

05/29/2026

“Businesses that use independent contractors, especially in roles close to their core operations, should consider reviewing those relationships now, including both contract language and day-to-day practice, to determine whether the arrangement can withstand ABC-test scrutiny. “

New Jersey has adopted regulations codifying the ABC test for determining whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor, with the new framework expected to take effect Oct. 1, 2026. Under the ABC test, workers are presumed to be employees unless the hiring entity can demonstrate that....

05/28/2026

UPDATE FROM PORT LIBERTY BAYONNE: Due to an emergency maintenance and repair issue, all imports in 16a have been placed on hold and are unavailable for delivery today (5/28) and tomorrow, Friday 5/29. All free time will be extended accordingly.

05/28/2026

APMT HOURS EXTENDED TODAY:

Attn. Trucking Community,

Gate hours will be extended until 17:00 today due to delays related to pending appointments taking longer than normal to process.

The root cause has been identified and corrective measures have been implemented to mitigate the issue moving forward.

Thank you for your continued patience and understanding. If any cargo missed LFD as a result of these delays, please contact the TSC or your CX representative for assistance with applicable extensions.

We apologize for the inconvenience this may have caused.

APM Terminals Elizabeth

05/27/2026

Legislative Update: The U.S. Transportation and Infrastructure Committee released the "Build America 250 Act" last week, which calls for some key changes impacting the trucking industry. Two aspects of the bill that are getting quite a bit of attention: mandatory bathroom access for truckers, and dedicated Federal funding to increase truck parking. There's a restroom access provision specific to port truckers, which states: “A terminal operator shall provide a sufficient number of covered restrooms for use by covered drayage truck operators in areas of the terminal to which such operators typically have access." Follow the link below for full details.

A House committee took the first steps toward making the surface transportation bill a reality.

05/26/2026

The Federal Maritime Commission recently completed a compromise agreement with Maersk shipping lines that included a civil penalty payment in the amount of $1,900,000.00.

An excerpt from today’s FMC announcement:
“The compromise agreement resolved allegations that Maersk violated the Shipping Act by assessing detention charges pursuant to its service contract and tariffs against third parties who had not consented to be bound by the terms of Maersk’s bills of lading, service contracts, or tariffs. Maersk agreed to terminate this practice and ensure future compliance by amending its U.S. tariff rules to limit the definition of merchant in its bills of lading to shippers, consignees, and persons with a beneficial interest in the cargo as defined by Commission regulations at 46 C.F.R. § 515.2(b). Finally, Maersk agreed that, in addition to paying a civil penalty, it will also issue refunds and waivers to impacted third parties.

Maersk compromised and agreed to the payment of a civil penalty, but did not admit to violations of the Shipping Act or Commission regulations.”

Read full details here:

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC or Commission) investigates potential violations of the Shipping Act and Commission regulations and negotiates settlements and informal compromises of civil penalties in relation to those potential violations. Recently, the Commission completed a compromise agree...

05/26/2026

UPDATE AT 3:39PM: MVA cleared, all lanes re-opened

NOTICE FROM APMT 2:33pm on 5/26: Attn. Trucking Community,
Due to an overturned tractor trailer on McLester St. (northbound) near Lyle King St., the PAPD has requested that all outbound trucks be sent South on McLester St. after departing APM Terminals.

Please be guided accordingly and follow instructions of the PAPD unitl regular traffic flow can in both directions resumes on McLester St., stay safe!