FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          AT
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1995                       (202) 616-2771
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888

         JUSTICE DEPARTMENT APPROVES PROPOSAL TO CONVENE
         DISCUSSION FORUMS FOR INTERMODAL FREIGHT HAULERS

     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of Justice today approved
a proposal by the Intermodal Council of the American Trucking
Associations Inc. to begin a series of forums to discuss how
people who work in the intermodal freight transportation industry
can improve their efficiency in shipping cargo.    
     The Antitrust Division said the forums could enhance
competitiveness among shippers by demonstrating that intermodal
service is an attractive low-cost option because it is a more
efficient and effective way to ship freight.  
     Intermodal freight transportation involves the exchange of
cargo between different modes of transportation, most commonly,
trucks and containers carried "piggy back" by rail. 
Representatives of all transportation modes, including motor
carriers, railroads, ocean carriers, and intermodal transfer
facilities, as well as their customers, would participate in the
forums.  The Intermodal Council will publish a report containing
the most efficient ideas and methods discussed at each forum and
make it available to interested parties.  Implementation of any
practices would be unilateral and voluntary.  
     Anne K. Bingaman, Assistant Attorney General of the
Antitrust Division, said, "It is unlikely that the proposed
discussion forums would have any significant anticompetitive
effect, especially in view of the participation by 
shipper-customers, and the competitive safeguards that the
Intermodal Council will put in place."
     Under the Department's business review procedure, an
organization may submit a proposed action to the Antitrust
Division and the Division, in turn, will reply in a statement as
to whether it will challenge the action as a violation of the
antitrust laws.
     A file containing the business review request and the
Department's response will be made available in the Legal
Procedure Unit of the Antitrust Division, Room 3235, Department
of Justice, Washington, D.C. 20530.  After a 30-day waiting
period, the documents supporting the business review request will
be added to the file.   
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