"IANA: Nothing doing ... Unless There’s a Strike or a Soiree"
The Intermodal Association of North America (IANA)—defender of efficiency, innovation, and dialogue—proclaims itself a champion of the freight industry. Yet, as ghost brokers run wild and the January 2025 port strike looms, their actual motto might as well be: “Not our problem.”
When asked about ghost brokers—overseas operators enticing UIIA-compliant dray companies while ignoring UIIA terms—IANA's response was classic bureaucracy: “Freight brokers aren’t part of the UIIA.” Translation? It’s not in the bylaws, so it’s not our issue. Meanwhile, small trucking companies bleed time and money, cleaning up messes caused by these brokers, all while being ignored.
But don’t worry—if you ask nicely, IANA will educate you on the UIIA. Just don’t mention enforcement gaps or inequities. Tone matters. Never disrupt their cocktail circuits with real-world issues. After all, there are awards to hand out.
Here’s the truth: IANA’s focus on railroads, SSLs, and major carriers leaves the system’s backbone—small truckers, brokers, and drivers—to fend for themselves. With the January 2025 port strike looming, these same people will shoulder the chaos. Ghost brokers? Enforcement gaps? Just another headache they’ll endure while IANA continues to attend the cocktail circuit.
Let’s face it: IANA’s mission to foster dialogue and efficiency is laughable. Dialogue with whom? Not the 80% of users navigating this rigged system every day. Instead, it’s with the power players funding the next champagne toast.
Here’s an idea: Fix the enforcement gap. Exclude ghost brokers like you exclude non-UIIA truckers from terminals. Start listening to small trucking companies and drivers who keep this system running. Because when the ports shut down and the “little guys” you’ve ignored stop showing up, you’ll realize the real crisis isn’t strikes—it’s your disconnect from reality.
But what do I know? I’m just one of those “misinformed” folks watching IANA slap band-aids on hemorrhages. Good luck, IANA. When the strike hits and the “little guys” stop bailing you out, maybe you’ll rethink that next gala toast. Cheers!
The EPA is unconstitutional and needs to be eliminated. Nixon created it for a problem that no longer exists. Climate change is a cult and a hoax. It's intent is to makes us all serfs and push us back into the 17th century. None of the dire predictions of the cult of climate change have come true nor been accurate. EVs were tried over 100 years ago and failed. They are a failure today. Musk's Tesla does not make money selling autos. Per Tesla's SEC filing their operating revenue and profit comes from selling government invented carbon credits to other companies.
Very nice, but if DOGE doesn't take a long, hard look at the defense budget, it's a sick joke.
But of course.
"IANA: Nothing doing ... Unless There’s a Strike or a Soiree"
The Intermodal Association of North America (IANA)—defender of efficiency, innovation, and dialogue—proclaims itself a champion of the freight industry. Yet, as ghost brokers run wild and the January 2025 port strike looms, their actual motto might as well be: “Not our problem.”
When asked about ghost brokers—overseas operators enticing UIIA-compliant dray companies while ignoring UIIA terms—IANA's response was classic bureaucracy: “Freight brokers aren’t part of the UIIA.” Translation? It’s not in the bylaws, so it’s not our issue. Meanwhile, small trucking companies bleed time and money, cleaning up messes caused by these brokers, all while being ignored.
But don’t worry—if you ask nicely, IANA will educate you on the UIIA. Just don’t mention enforcement gaps or inequities. Tone matters. Never disrupt their cocktail circuits with real-world issues. After all, there are awards to hand out.
Here’s the truth: IANA’s focus on railroads, SSLs, and major carriers leaves the system’s backbone—small truckers, brokers, and drivers—to fend for themselves. With the January 2025 port strike looming, these same people will shoulder the chaos. Ghost brokers? Enforcement gaps? Just another headache they’ll endure while IANA continues to attend the cocktail circuit.
Let’s face it: IANA’s mission to foster dialogue and efficiency is laughable. Dialogue with whom? Not the 80% of users navigating this rigged system every day. Instead, it’s with the power players funding the next champagne toast.
Here’s an idea: Fix the enforcement gap. Exclude ghost brokers like you exclude non-UIIA truckers from terminals. Start listening to small trucking companies and drivers who keep this system running. Because when the ports shut down and the “little guys” you’ve ignored stop showing up, you’ll realize the real crisis isn’t strikes—it’s your disconnect from reality.
But what do I know? I’m just one of those “misinformed” folks watching IANA slap band-aids on hemorrhages. Good luck, IANA. When the strike hits and the “little guys” stop bailing you out, maybe you’ll rethink that next gala toast. Cheers!
100%, the shipping companies and intermodal terminal operators own a lot of the blame with crushing the small truckers.
I had no idea that Vivek was so into trucks, Gord, though it's no surprise he was a fan of the Convoy. I hope this post reaches him.
On point as per usual Gord!! Love the nod to EV as Elon helps push that non-starter at least not plausible for trucking in its current form.
Actually FMCSA & the like shouldn’t exist if DOGE does what it is hyped up to be ;-)
Great Job, Gord! Definitely going to be sharing this!
Thank you for your kind words, Mitch, and the paid subscription. Very generous of you.
The EPA is unconstitutional and needs to be eliminated. Nixon created it for a problem that no longer exists. Climate change is a cult and a hoax. It's intent is to makes us all serfs and push us back into the 17th century. None of the dire predictions of the cult of climate change have come true nor been accurate. EVs were tried over 100 years ago and failed. They are a failure today. Musk's Tesla does not make money selling autos. Per Tesla's SEC filing their operating revenue and profit comes from selling government invented carbon credits to other companies.
MACA Make Amerika Clean Again.
Oh! Thought you were talking about all the Trash along the Highway.