Frequently Asked Questions

What is a D.A.D.

Before customs demanded all Bill of ladings be released electronicly via AMS, B/L's could be released by a paper document known as a a Delivery Authorization Document(DAD).

How often is Customs and/or Freight released data updated?

Per General Agreement with the "Terminal Operator, Port Authority Subcomittee For EDI" (TOPAS), Ocean carriers are obligated to transmit electronic Freight Releases every ten minutes seven days a week, 24 hours a day. ASI posts all Freight Releases when recieved. Customs releases are transmitted by the AMS system controlled by USCSB. Customs releases and hold/exam notifications (actually called disposioion codes are exteamly complex and differ from the ABI (Automated Broker Interface). Since January of 2007, only the AMS system determines the customs release status of a Bill of Lading. The AMS system also alerts the Terminal Operator of a selection for examination, transfer to a CES for exam, a PTT, or in In Port Transfer. A Bill of Lading may have an "Entry Release" yet still be held for one or more Examinations.
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How is the Free Date assigned to an Import Container? Why does it sometimes change?

The number of free days (usually 4 business days) is calculated from the day the ship discharges. If the container is barged to New Jersey before the original free time expires, we will recalculate the free date based upon the day the barge was discharged. All containers with no examinations scheduled prior to discharge enjoy the recalculated free date. 90% of containers which have been selected for a Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) enjoy the recalculated free date. 95% of containers selected for a NII at ASI are completed within 2 days and barged the same or next day.

How is the Demurrage rate determined for a Import Container? Why does it differ between Steamship Line, Container type, Period and size?

All marine terminals in the NY/NJ (except Maher) agreed to the Tarriff produced by the New York Terminal Conference. The Tarriff lists all charges which must be charged by the Terminals unless a prior agreement has been made between the lines and the Marine Terminals. The Tarriff was increased to a three period rate schedule for containers discharged after May 1, 2005. In additon, many steamship lines have he the Marine Terminal collect the Lines' Equipment usage charges with the demurage chages.
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Which system gives the most current data, Automated Telephone, Web, or Customer Service?

The Web System develops pages from the live data on demand. The information displayed is Real-Time. It reflects the latest activity recorded by the company. Customer service also has access to this Real-Time information. The Telephone system, however, is given data every 20 minutes. Therefore the information provided by the may be anywhere from 30 seconds to 21 minutes out of date.

The Container Inquiry Screen used to show Bill of Lading Numbers but now it only shows the release status

We have improved our security and made our methodology of releasing container more consistant with the rest of the industry. A broker must enter a valid Bill of Lading number in the container before he can nominate a trucker for the delivery. Although this level of security is not necessary using our original design, some terminals use the Bill of Lading number as a release number.
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Why don't you show current chassis inventories to truckers?

Chassis inventories change too frequently to show on the web. The system does not know what chassis are waiting on line to be recieved, or which chassis in the yard are already hooked to a tractor

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Still using Paper Delivery Orders? Join the Trucker or Broker service package (Click Information Center below)

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