Transportation
Thompson Hine | Oil and Gas by Rail - A Four Part Series From Oil + Gas Monitor
Overview

The transportation industry has evolved from a highly regulated sector into a dynamic and innovative service market essential to vital just-in-time deliveries and integrated supply chains.

Thompson Hine is rated at the top of our profession in the United States for the representation of shippers in rail and motor carrier matters by Chambers USA, based on interviews with clients and peers. We understand both the regulatory settings and the commercial complexities affecting domestic and multimodal international transportation of cargo.

We provide a broad range of services to clients in the industry and handle a variety of matters concerning commercial, regulatory, litigation, legislative and policy issues involving the transportation of goods by rail, truck, vessel, aircraft and pipeline. We also counsel clients on matters of homeland security and transportation of hazardous materials as those issues continue to have an increasing impact on their businesses.

Manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers that import or export products must contend with a host of transportation-related regulatory issues. Our Transportation team works hand in hand with our International Trade lawyers to provide a holistic approach to assisting clients in getting their goods where they need to go.  Visit our International Trade pages to learn more about how we can assist you.

We represent clients in a broad range of administrative and regulatory matters before the following government agencies:

  • Department of Transportation (DOT)
  • Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
  • Federal Highway Administration (FHA)
  • Federal Maritime Commission (FMC)
  • Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
  • Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)
  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
  • Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
  • Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA)
  • Surface Transportation Board (STB)

We advise clients across all major modes of transportation and types of commodities. Our clients include bulk and non-bulk shippers, intermediaries and carriers. Examples of past and present clients include:

  • Bulk-commodity shippers (electric utilities, agricultural companies, metals companies, petro-chemical companies, coal companies)
  • Industry trade associations
  • Manufacturers
  • Motor carriers
  • Retail companies
  • Short-line railroads
  • State and local government interests
  • Transportation intermediaries (motor freight forwarders, motor carrier brokers, intermodal marketing companies, third-party logistics companies, non-vessel operating common carriers (NVOCC), ocean freight forwarders)
Distinctions

Why choose Thompson Hine for your transportation legal needs?

  • Our lawyers are nationally rated at the top of their profession for representation of shippers in rail and motor carrier matters by Chambers USA, based on interviews with clients and peers.
  • Through more than 50 years of representing The National Industrial Transportation League, the nation’s oldest and largest trade association for shippers and individual companies across industry lines, our lawyers have been at the center of virtually every major freight transportation issue.
  • Our lawyers have in-depth experience in all aspects of freight transportation transactions, including contract negotiation, interpretation and performance; service problems; safety and economic regulation, compliance and enforcement; and dispute resolution through mediation, arbitration, and litigation.
  • Our experience extends to all four transportation modes (i.e. motor, rail, water and air) and to shippers, carriers and transportation intermediaries such as brokers, forwarders, NVOCCs, and 3PLs.
  • Our lawyers have strong relationships with government transportation agencies and are among the leaders in national transportation bar associations.
  • We use a multi-disciplinary approach to address our clients’ needs. When your transportation issues overlap with other areas of law (e.g. corporate, environmental, labor, litigation, real estate), we draw on the experience of Thompson Hine lawyers in these other fields.
  • Our firm recognizes the importance of making client service our focus in everything we do. Our Client Service Pledge details this commitment and what our clients can expect from us.

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US World News National 2019