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.