A coalition of nearly 50 farm and business groups is asking for a program to be enacted that would promote better movement of products through U.S. ports.  The Port Performance Statistics Program in the recently passed surface transportation bill would provide data that could be used as an early warning system for when ports stop operating normally. Max Fisher with the National Grain and Feed Association says the provision should help prevent backlogs and disruptions at the ports.

He says the groups sent a letter to the Bureau of Transportation’s Statistics Division asking them to implement the provision.

Fisher says BTS is charged with establishing a working group of private and public sector participants to develop a set of metrics on port marine terminal productivity.  He’s hoping that, along with Presidential involvement during times of major port disruptions, will prevent future logjams.

The working group is also tasked with determining when the federal government needs to step in to protect the economy during port shutdowns.