The results of the AgTC’s 2014 Ocean Carrier Performance Survey were announced on Thursday June 26, at the 26th Annual Meeting of the Agriculture Transportation Coalition in San Francisco. This year, the overall Top Ranked Carrier for 2014 is OOCL (USA), Inc. The recognition was accepted by Edward Zaninelli, Vice President, Westbound TransPacific Trade and Andy Lumley, Vice President, Customer Service North America Due to their high ranking, just behind the Top Ranked, Hamburg Sud and Evergreen were recognized for their performance in 2014. The Agriculture Transportation Coalition has been named by leading transport publications as “the principal voice of agriculture exporters in US transportation policy.” Each year, the AgTC surveys the broad and diverse cross-section of our members, the US agriculture and forest products exporters and importers from all geographic locations, of virtually all dry and refrigerated products, via dry and refrigerated 20 foot and 40 foot containers, to determine the ocean carrier performance. The AgTC’s Ocean Carrier Performance Survey has become a much anticipated means for ocean carriers to benchmark their performance on critical factors which determine the customer experience with their line. By ranking the carriers on each of eleven discrete performance elements, carriers can determine where they stand, in the export shippers’ eyes, on the service they are providing. While the complete rankings are not released publicly, the AgTC does individual carrier ratings, both overall and for each performance element, with that carrier, upon request. This then can be a constructive means to gauge performance relative to competing carriers. All Annual Survey responses are aggregated, and the individual responses discarded, to assure confidentiality of each shipper’s response. This year’s Survey was again expanded to gain more insight into agriculture and forest products shippers who completed the Survey. The Survey collected data on the shippers’: • Cargo origins in the US and Canada • Global cargo destinations • Volume of cargo/containers shipped each year The AgTC members were then asked to rate ocean carriers in eleven categories of service. Following are the categories. (The full results showing the entire rankings may be shared with individual carriers, upon request) • consistent availability of correct sizes and types of container equipment needed • consistent availability of slots on vessels and equipment needed each week by port and service string • overall document accuracy and efficiency • accuracy in shipment rating and bill of lading release/turn time • willingness to accept shippers’ export documentation as close to cargo cut-off as possible • advertised vs. actual vessel schedule and transit time • intermodal door service and availability from shipper facilities or interior gateways • terminal service and efficiency at US ports • terminal service and efficiency at foreign ports • understanding and adaptation to commercial needs of the agriculture community • representatives’ response time and ability to address problems