Noncontiguous Shipping Reasonable Rate Act of 2024

This bill sets a clear cap on what counts as a “reasonable” price for shipping goods by ocean within the United States to places not connected by land to the mainland. A rate would be considered reasonable if it’s within 10% of a similar international ocean shipping rate that the Federal Maritime Commission recognizes as a benchmark. Today, the law already says rates must be reasonable, and the Surface Transportation Board generally decides if certain rates are fair; this bill would tie that judgment to a clear outside index for these routes.

Key points:

• Who is affected: Companies and customers involved in noncontiguous domestic ocean trade.
• What changes: A rate is “reasonable” if it’s within 10% of a comparable international ocean rate index recognized by the Federal Maritime Commission.
• Why it matters: Creates a simple, measurable standard instead of case-by-case judgments for these routes.