After negotiations between the International Longshoremen's Assocation and U.S. Maritime Alliance broke down and with no new talks scheduled, National Industrial Transportation League (NITL) President and CEO Bruce Carlton told U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in an August 29 letter that the organization, “is extremely concerned about the dire consequences that would impact the nation’s freight system and our economy as a result of a bi-coastal shutdown.”

Any port disruptions “will have a domino-effect on domestic transportation systems resulting in costly delays, supply disruptions and scheduling hardships on customers,” Carlton continued.

Carlton concluded by asking for the Secretary’s help in encouraging the two sides to resume talks. “Only as a last resort should other measures be considered to head off a port work stoppage,” he said.