Staff Contact: Lisa K. Winter Telephone (703)

Transcription

1 Re: Shopping Carts Staff Contact: Lisa K. Winter Telephone (703) Proponent: Commodity Classification Standards Board Present Classification Provisions Item Description Class VEHICLES, OTHER THAN SELF-PROPELLED: subject to item Carts, market basket, two wheeled, or Basket Carts, self-service store, four wheeled, in packages: Sub 1 SU, not nested nor telescoped Sub 2 SU, nested; or SU, three or more telescoped; loose when shipments weigh 24,000 pounds or more Sub 3 KD flat Proposed Classification Provisions Item Description Class VEHICLES, OTHER THAN SELF-PROPELLED: subject to item Carts, market basket, two wheeled, or Basket Carts, self-service store, four wheeled, etc... Cancel; see item A-NEW A-NEW Shopping Carts, see Note, item B-NEW, in packages: Sub 1 SU, not interlaced Sub 2 SU, interlaced Sub 3 KD flat B-NEW NOTE Also applies on shopping carts that provide seating or amusement for small children. Analysis This proposal was docketed in response to information gathered in conjunction with Research Project 968. The project was initiated in February, 2004 in response to information on shipments of shopping carts indicating that they have densities inconsistent with their assigned classes. In February, 2005, after considering a report on Research Project 968, a former Classification Panel docketed a proposal to update the description of item and assign classes reflective of the known transportation characteristics. Designated as Docket , Subject 2 (May, 2005), the proposal was considered by the Panel that met on May 3, It proposed the changes shown on the following page to the provisions of item : 2008 National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc. Subject 8, Page 1 of 6

2 Item Description Class VEHICLES, OTHER THAN SELF-PROPELLED: subject to item Shopping Carts, in packages: Sub 1 SU, not interlaced Sub 2 SU, interlaced; or SU, three or more telescoped Sub 3 KD flat A representative of a major manufacturer of shopping carts was present at the meeting. He indicated a willingness to work with the staff to develop additional data on the transportation characteristics of shopping carts. For that reason, the proposal was disapproved. Since then, the manufacturer provided more data on its shopping carts and additional information has been gathered by the CCSB. History of Current Classification Provisions The provisions for Carts, market basket, wheeled, first appeared in Supplement 15 to NMFC No. 6, effective April 5, The equivalent of class 150 was assigned to carts shipped SU and the equivalent of class 100 was assigned to KD, flat or folded flat carts. The class 300 assigned to carts moving under the sub 1 provisions of item was assigned as a result of action taken on Docket 52, Subject 82 (September-October, 1951). Information on record indicated that carts shipped SU, not nested nor telescoped had a density of 2.93 pcf and that nested or KD flat carts had a density of pcf. The class 85 shown in the sub 3 provisions was established as the result of action taken on Subject 36 of Docket 98 (March, 1961). This was a proposal to reduce the class from 100 to 85 for carts shipped SU, nested and those shipped KD flat; however the proposal was approved as modified and the class reduction was applied only to the KD flat carts. The advertisement for shopping carts shown on the left was from the late 1940s and most likely is representative of some of the carts for which the item was established. About Shopping Carts The current wording of item provides for Carts, market basket or Basket Carts, self-service store ; however, today the products moving under item are simply referred to as shopping carts. Almost all shopping carts are made of metal or plastic and most are designed to interlace within each other in a line to facilitate moving many at one time, and to save on storage space. It should be noted that while the shopping cart industry uses the terminology nest or telescope, for classification purposes these terms do not accurately describe the method in which shopping carts fit one within the other. Shopping carts can come in many sizes, with larger ones able to carry a child. There are also specialized carts Subject 8, Page 2 of National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc.

3 designed for two children. Shopping carts are usually fitted with caster wheels that can point in any direction to allow easier maneuvering 1. Some shopping carts that are shipped under the provisions of item are shown below: Transportation Characteristics of Shopping Carts Density: Information derived from Research Project 968 and that gathered subsequently from member carriers and a dock survey yields 162 density observations showing an average density of 5.14 pcf and a range in density of 1.24 to pcf. When the data is sorted according to the currently applicable subprovision, the following density averages and ranges emerge: Subprovision Average Density Density Range Sub to Sub to Sub 3 * * *No data was received on shopping carts shipped KD flat, per sub 3. The frequency distribution of densities below shows a normal distribution or bell curve of figures for carts moving under subs 1 and 2, indicating that the mean or average density is reflective of the densities of shopping carts moving in transit. 1 (Accessed April 24, 2008) 2008 National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc. Subject 8, Page 3 of 6

4 Further, while the involved shopping carts have a wide density range, the densities of interlaced carts can vary as they move through the carriers systems. For example, at the point of origin, a carrier may pick up 50 carts, which may be interlaced in two groups of 25 each. In transit, the carts may be taken apart for delivery to their separate and final destinations. At their destination, only three to five carts may be interlaced. The table below demonstrates that as each additional cart is added to the shipment, the density increases 2. # of Carts Length of Shipping Unit (in) Width (in) Height (in) Cube Weight Density 1 Cart Interlaced Interlaced Interlaced Interlaced Stowability: The current provisions of item require that shopping carts are shipped in packages. 3 Information was received on shopping carts shipped loose, in bundles and in fibreboard containers attached to a pallet. Information provided by carrier personnel indicates that loose shopping carts and those shipped in bundles may pose additional stowing problems as some do not provide a flat, load-bearing surface for freight with which stowed; although the photograph below on the left indicates that it can be done. Further, loose or bundled shopping carts may shift in the trailer in which stowed unless they are blocked and braced. Shopping carts shipped in fibreboard containers on pallets should not pose any notable stowing problems. Photographs of shopping carts prepared for shipment or loaded in carrier trailers are shown below. Carts Interlaced and Stacked in Trailer Carts as Delivered to Carrier SU Carts in Fibreboard Containers on Pallets 2 In this example, the densities of the interlaced carts are computed by adding the weight of each cart and the length of 10¾ inches (which is the measurement of that portion of the cart that does not fit inside the cart before it), for each additional cart. 3 Sub 2 of item allows loose shipments but only if weighing 24,000 pounds or more. Subject 8, Page 4 of National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc.

5 Handling: Shopping carts shipped in fibreboard containers on pallets should not pose any notable handling problems as they may be loaded and unloaded with the aid of mechanical equipment. Shopping carts shipped on their own wheels most likely would be handled manually. The longer the handling unit, the more difficult it may be to move across carrier docks and onto a trailer. The longer the unit the more unwieldy shopping carts are likely to become. Liability: Shopping carts are generally not susceptible to theft. They are not perishable, and are not susceptible to spontaneous combustion or explosion. There is no indication that shopping carts have the propensity to damage other freight, nor is there evidence that they are unusually prone to be damaged by freight with which stowed. The value per pound of shopping carts is shown to average $1.10. Relationship to CCSB Policies and Guidelines Shopping carts moving under subs 1 and 2 of item have densities inconsistent with their currently assigned classes, according to CCSB guidelines. (As noted, there is no recent data on carts moving under the sub 3 provisions.) This is demonstrated in the table below: Subprovision Average Density Current Class Density Guideline Class Sub Sub Sub 3 * 85 * While the involved shopping carts have wide density ranges, the densities of shopping carts can differ from point of origin to point(s) of destination. Also, as depicted in the graph on page 3, the average densities of shopping carts tend to be reflective of the range of densities of the majority of shopping carts moving in the LTL environment. Absent any unusual or significant stowing, handling or liability traits, it is CCSB policy and precedent to assign classes reflective of density. Shopping carts that are shipped under the sub 1 provisions do pose some added stowing and handling concerns, but they are not shown to be unusual or significant. The average density of 3.88 pcf for SU shopping carts that are not interlaced is usually associated with the proposed class 250, according to CCSB density guidelines. Shopping carts shipped SU, interlaced, moving under the sub 2 provisions, may pose some added stowing and handling problems. CCSB precedent is to assign one class higher than that associated with the density to freight with comparable transportation characteristics to the involved shopping carts. Assigning a class 175 one class higher than the class 150 associated with the average density, according to CCSB density guidelines to shopping carts moving under the sub 2 provisions, as proposed, would be consistent with CCSB precedent. Further, the wording of item is not reflective of current terminology. Generally these products are referred to simply as shopping carts. Also, some shopping carts are 2008 National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc. Subject 8, Page 5 of 6

6 designed to provide seating and amusement for small children. CCSB clarification and simplification policy is to add commonly used terminology to item descriptions to identify commodities. Amending the provisions to read shopping carts, and adding a clarifying Note that reads Also applies on shopping carts that provide seating or amusement for small children, as proposed, would be consistent with CCSB policy. Cancelling item with reference to a new item and concurrently establishing a new item for shopping carts, as proposed, would be in keeping with CCSB policies. For these reasons, this proposal is consistent with CCSB policy. Subject 8, Page 6 of National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc.