PART A: GENERAL CHAPTER 53 TRANSPORTATION 53000 SCOPE 1. The provisions of this chapter relate to the movements of Marine Corps property, household goods and personal effects via commercial carriers. Instructions concerning passenger transportation are prescribed in Joint Travel Regulations, U. S. Navy Travel Instructions and other instructions promulgated by the Commandant of the Marine Corps. 2. The Supply Department is charged with furnishing the means of transportation required in the travel of Marine Corps personnel and their dependents and the movement of all supplies of the Marine Corps, including the authorized allowance of household and personal effects of officers and enlisted personnel, authorized amounts of officers, public funds and such other articles or supplies as may be required to be transported at Government expense. The Supply Department is also charged with the settlement of accounts for such services. Settlement for services procured on transportation requests, meal tickets, and bills of lading chargeable to Marine Corps appropriations will be effected by the office of the Quartermaster General of the Marine Corps. Settlement of travel claims of personnel and their dependents will be effected by disbursing officers carrying the pay accounts of the personnel concerned, as provided in Part D, Chapter 87. Ch. 2 7/51 1. All personnel charged with furnishing transportation shall familiarize themselves with applicable rules, regulations, allowances, and policies providing for the transportation of freight and personnel. Transportation officers of Marine Corps activities shall also familiarize themselves with local traffic conditions at their respective posts and stations in order that passengers and freight may be dispatched expeditiously and by the most economical routes. Information should be available covering special rates, routes or sleeping car lines which may permanently or temporarily affect the post or station. This information generally can be obtained from local agents of the rail, water, air or bus lines. Additional information relative to the application of fares, rates, classifications or other details in connection with transportation, should be requested from the Commandant of the Marine Corps (Code: CSJ). 53002 SUPPLEMENTAL PUBLICATIONS 1. In addition to the publications prescribed in Chapter 22, the following supplemental publications necessary for the administration of activities dispatching passengers or freight 53-3 movements are furnished on request submitted Consolidated Freight Classification. Navy Freight Classification Guide (Yards Navy Freight Classification Guide (General Interstate Commerce Commission Regula- The Official Guide of the Railways and Steam Marine Corps Passenger Traffic and Freight 53003 DEFINITIONS 1. The following definitions are abbreviations, short titles and expressions used throughout these regulations and all publications relating to rail traffic in the continental United States. ABSORPTION. The assumption by one carrier of switching or other special charges of another generally without increasing the rate of the shipper. ACCEPTANCE. Receipt by the consignee of a shipment thus terminating the common carrier liability. ACCESSORIAL SERVICE. A service rendered by a carrier in addition to a transportation service, such as assorting, packing, precooling, heating, storage, substitution of tonnage, etc. ADVANCE NOTICE. A notification of an approaching event or intended action. AGENCY TARIFF. A tariff issued by a 53-4 Supply publishing agent for one or more transpor tation lines. ALL RAIL. Entirely by rail transportation. ALL WATER. Entirely by water transpor tation. ANY-QUANTITY RATE. A rate applicable to an article in any quantity. ARRIVAL NOTICE. A notice furnished to consignee of the arrival of freight. ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN RAILROADS. An organization of railroads serving the United States, Canada and Mexico for the purpose of improving transportation services. AVERAGE DEMURRAGE AGREE MENT. An agreement made between & shipper and a transportation line whereby the shipper is debited for the time cars are held for loading or unloading beyond a certain period and credited for the time cars are released by him within a certain period, demurrage charges being assessed by the transportation line, usually at the end of the month, for any outstanding debits. BILLED WEIGHT. The weight shown in a waybill and freight bill. BLOCKING OR BRACING. Wood or metal supports to keep shipments in place in or on cars. BOX CAR. A closed car used for hauling freight. BRIDGE TOLL. A charge made for trans porting traffic over a bridge. CABOOSE. A car attached to the end of a freight train for the use of the train's crew. CAPACITY. The available space for freight. CARGO TONNAGE (WEIGHT OR MEASUREMENT). The weight ton in the United States is 2,000 or 2,240 pounds, and in British countries it is the English long or gross ton of 2,240 pounds. In France and other countries having the metric system the weight ton is 2,204.62 pounds. The measurement ton is usually 40 cubic feet, but in some instances a larger number of cubic feet is taken as a weight ton. Most ocean freight is taken at a weight or measurement (W/M), ship's option. PART B: POLICIES GOVERNING MOVEMENT OF MARINE CORPS PROPERTY It is hereby declared to be the national transportation policy of the Congress to provide for fair and impartial regulation of all modes of transportation subject to the provisions of this Act, so administered as to recognize and preserve the inherent advantages of each; to promote safe, adequate, economical, and efficient service and foster sound economic conditions in transportation and among the several carriers; to encourage the establishment and maintenance of reasonable charges for transportation services, without unjust discrimination, undue preferences or advantages or unfair or destructive competitive practices; to cooperate with the several States and the duly authorized officials thereof; and to encourage fair wages and equitable working conditions; all to the end of developing, coordinating, and preserving a national transportation system by water, highway, and rail, as well as other means, adequate to meet the needs of the commerce of the United States, of the Postal Service, and of the national defense. All of the provisions of this Act shall be administered and enforced with a view to carrying out the above declaration of policy. 2. The Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938 (Act of June 23, 1938, Ch. 601, sec. 2, 52 Stat. 980; 49 U. S. C. 402) states that among other things, it is the policy of Congress with respect to air transportation, to promote "xxx adequate, economical and efficient service by air carriers at reasonable charges, without unjust discriminations, undue preferences or advantages, or unfair or destructive competitive practices xxx." 53012 MILITARY TRAFFIC SERVICE POLICIES 1. A Military Traffic Service established by the Secretary of Defense provides, under one authority, for the efficient and economical traffic management for the movement within the continental United States, of persons and things for all military departments. 2. The policies of the Military Traffic Service as outlined in this Part shall govern the action by Marine Corps transportation officers with respect to: (1) negotiation for commercial transportation of persons and things; (2) routing; (3) equipment use; and (4) highway utili zation. 53013 NEGOTIATION 1. Each military department shall request of the Military Traffic Service authority to proceed in all proposed rate negotiations (tariffs, schedules, or Section 22 agreements) affecting movements of 1,000 tons or more, and shall report the results of such negotiation as authorized by MTS, for review and decision as to publicity outside of the Department of Defense. Rates involving lesser movements may be negotiated without prior clearance, but shall be then reported as above. Voluntary quotations shall be reported in the same manner as provided for rates involving lesser movements. 2. No promise of tonnage by any military department may be made to carriers or owners of commercial transportation equipment as an inducement to acquire additional equipment or new or additional operational authority. 3. Representatives of the military departments are authorized by Military Traffic Service to attend rate meetings for the following purposes: a. Meetings for presentation of facts and requests or recommendations when held with a carrier, or with a group of carriers when such group is authorized by law (under the Interstate Commerce Act, as amended by Section 5a, June 17, 1948-Reed-Bulwinkle Agreements as approved by the Commission; or under Sections 412 and 414 of the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938, as amended) jointly to consider, initiate and establish rates, fares, classifications, etc., and such group so notifies the military department in advance that it possesses such authority; and b. Meetings for opening of bids with a carrier, or carriers, for the transportation of persons or things where authorized by regulations of the military departments to do so. 4. No representative of any military department shall serve as presiding officer of, or actively participate in any capacity other than that of a user of the service in a meeting including more than one carrier, when such meeting is called to negotiate rates or to solicit modification of bids. 5. No representative of any military department shall initiate, defend, intervene, or participate in, or supply information in proceedings before transportation regulatory bodies without prior approval from the Military Traffic Service, except to the extent authorized in Munitions Board Policy, October 1950, captioned, "Participation before governmental bodies on applications for new or increased operational authority or franchise". 53014 ROUTING 1. In determining the mode of transportation to be utilized, the least costly means shall be selected, having in mind safety, expedition, equipment supply, procurement regulations, military necessity, and the national transportation policy. 2. After determining the mode of transportation, the usual and customary routes shall be selected, subject to the same criteria set forth in subparagraph 1 above, with care exercised to avoid undue waste of transportation and to bring about proper use of commercial equipment in accordance with paragraph 53015. 3. Within the foregoing principles, routing should cause to the maximum extent practicable, equitable distribution among commercial ports and among all types of inland carriers. a. Where consistent with the interest of the military departments and with subparagraphs 1 above, routing via railroad shall recognize (in an average way but not necessarily in any particular situation) the relative importance of each railroad within the national rail transportation system by consideration of the line-mileage operated by each system (first main track including branches, according to I. C. C. data, within each territory). b. Where consistent with the interest of the military departments and with subparagraph 1 above, routing by truck shall recognize the importance of operations by responsible motor carriers to the national transportation system. Responsible motor carrier operations imply conduct of such transportation with well maintained and properly designed equipment, handled by well supervised and trained personnel, and operated over routes authorized by appropriate regulatory agencies and in strict Ch. 2 7/51 conformity with all laws and regulations respecting public and carrier liability, safety, size, and weight limitations. c. Routing to ports shall take into consideration military requirements, the need for an efficient use of existing military facilities and vessels, the lowest landed cost insofar as it can be determined at time of shipment, and shall avoid undue concentration of both berth operator (commercial) cargo and cargo loaded over military controlled docks into MSTS vessels in identical port areas. 53015 EQUIPMENT USE POLICIES 1. The policies herein stated shall apply to the use of commercial-carrier type transportation equipment, such as railroad cars, motor vehicles, aircraft, barges, etc., by any military department, including government - owned equipment when used in competition with like commercial equipment. 2. Any commercial equipment controlled by lease or otherwise shall be maintained by the military departments only if the agreement so provides. A military department using commercial equipment controlled by lease or otherwise shall be responsible, however, for seeing that such equipment is maintained to standards which will generally insure safe operation. 3. Loading commercial transportation equipment leased or otherwise controlled or used by the military departments, in any manner inconsistent with existing regulations or in violation of any federal, state, or municipal laws, ordinances, or regulations shall not knowingly be permitted or encouraged. 4. Care will be taken to obtain maximum loading consistent with the priority need for the property, its safety, handling efficiency, and with due regard for the availability of equipment supply. Maximum loading will not be secured in any manner inconsistent with the policy stated in subparagraph 3 above. 5. Use of commercial trucks for transporting explosives and other dangerous, or potentially dangerous articles may be authorized as particular circumstances require. Where and when so required, such use shall be administered in such manner as to effect and facilitate control and supervision of: a. Security with respect to publicity.on any phase of the movement. b. Safety with respect to handling, packaging, stowing, and routing over highways to reduce hazards to densely populated urban areas. 6. In order to insure maximum use of space in vessels operated and made available by Military Sea Transport Service on light or empty voyages, the military departments shall make every effort to utilize such space whenever this will result in a lesser total cost to the government and will likewise lessen use of land transportation. 53016 HIGHWAY UTILIZATION POLICIES 1. It is the policy of the Department of Defense to conform to state and local laws, regulations, and ordinances relating to weight and size limitations of motor vehicles. Limitations on the weight and dimensions of vehicular movements over roads and bridges are necessary to assure safe passage over and prevent damage to highway facilities. State laws provide that no vehicular movement over public highways which exceeds any legal limitation of weight or dimension shall be undertaken unless prior permission for such movement is granted by the state or states concerned. Limitations on the weight and dimensions of vehicular movements over public highways are determined independently by each state and may vary considerably for interstate movements. 2. Except in instances of overriding and urgent military necessity, no vehicular movement which exceeds any legal weight or size |