Container chassis

The use of chassis to haul containers over-the-road is known as drayage trucking, and is a section of intermodal, which also includes rail transport of containers using well or flat cars and overseas transport in ships or barges. Like other intermodal equipment, chassis are equipped with twistlocks at each corner which allows a container (hoisted onto or off the chassis by a crane), to be locked on for secure transport or unlocked to be lifted off.{{cite book |last1=Hildebrand |first1=Michael |last2=Noll |first2=Gregory |last3=Hand |first3= William |date=2018 |title=Intermodal Container Emergencies |location=Burlington, MA |publisher=Jones & Bartlett Learning |page=69 |edition=2nd }} The length of a chassis corresponds to which container size will fit (i.e., a 40-foot-long chassis fits a 40-foot-long container), but some models are adjustable length.{{cite book |last=Muller |first=Gerhardt |date=1989 |title=Intermodal Freight Transportation |publisher=Eno Foundation for Transportation |page=113 }} File:HUA-171566-Afbeelding van de overslag van containers op de Container Terminal Amsterdam in de Westhaven te Amsterdam.jpg

File:Container lock----6001【 Pictures taken in Japan 】.jpg

Semi-tractor trucks hook up to chassis via the kingpin. When disconnected from a tractor, the chassis' landing gear can be cranked down to park it.{{cite magazine |author= |title=Containerisation International Year Book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KKseAQAAMAAJ |magazine=Containerisation International Year Book |location=London |publisher=National Magazine Company |date=1971 |access-date=December 22, 2020}}

Portable generators, also called gensets, can be mounted (underslung) onto chassis. These gensets are used to power a refrigerated container.{{cite book |last1=Filina-Dawidowicz |first1=L. |last2=Santos |first2=T. |last3=Guedes Soares |first3=C. |editor-last1=Guedes Soares |editor-first1=C. |editor-last2=Santos |editor-first2=T. |date=2016 |section=Refrigerated cargo handling: Demand and requirements for Portuguese ports |title=Maritime Technology and Engineering 3 |location=Leiden, The Netherlands |publisher=CRC Press |volume=1 |page=63 |isbn=978-1-138-03222-4}}

The axle group on some chassis (especially 20-foot and 53-foot units) can be slid backwards or forwards to change the weight distribution of heavy containers, allowing safe operation and compliance with weight restrictions.

An identification number is often stenciled on chassis to track each unit in a fleet. According to ISO 6346, a chassis should have the letter "Z" at the end of its reporting mark.

File:Skeleton container semi-trailer.jpg

A variation is the tank container chassis, which are used for ISO tank containers. They are characteristically longer and have lower deck height then standard chassis, ideal for transporting constantly shifting payloads. These chassis can also be fitted with additional accessories including: lift kits to facilitate product discharge, hose tubes, and hi/lo kits to carry two empty tanks. They come in tandem axle, spread axle, tri-axle, and hi/lo combo configurations.

File:Stacking Intermodal container in Port of Chittagong (14).jpg to shuttle containers within a port. They have side panels instead of twistlocks which allows crane operators to quickly place containers on them to hasten the unloading process.]]

File:View from RTD commuter train passing UP DIF during A-Line opening, 2.jpg

Unlike other countries where chassis are mostly owned or long-term leased by trucking companies, in the United States most chassis are currently owned by a few leasing companies (pools) which rent out the equipment to truckers.{{rp|page=1|quote=Conventionally in the U.S., ocean carriers have supplied, owned, and incurred the responsibility for managing ocean container chassis. This is unlike other regions of the world where chassis are supplied largely by motor carriers and logistics companies.}}{{cite web |url=http://www.ocema.org/cpi.html |title=Changing U.S. Intermodal Chassis Operations |author= |date= |website=OCEMA |publisher= |access-date=January 8, 2021 |quote=}} When a trucker leaves or enters a facility with a pool chassis, an electronic data interchange (EDI) record is generated at the facility gate which identifies the trucking company and the chassis pool, and this allows the pool to invoice the appropriate trucking company for chassis usage. The system is influenced by the steamship lines and by the operation of container terminals. Firstly, containers are commonly stored on chassis as a single mounted unit at rail yards and depots—such terminals are known as "wheeled" facilities. Secondly, steamship lines offer a service called ″carrier haulage″ or ″store door delivery″, whereby they arrange the drayage of a customer’s container. The steamship line hires a local trucking company and pays the pool for the chassis usage.

As a result, steamship lines formed contractual agreements with the pools which entail that when a container is on-terminal it must be on a pool specified by the steamship line.{{cite report |date=July 2015 |title=U.S. Container Port Congestion & Related International Supply Chain Issues: Causes, Consequences & Challenges |url=https://www.fmc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/PortForumReport_FINALwebAll.pdf |publisher=Federal Maritime Commission |access-date=December 29, 2020 }}{{rp|page=26|quote=When they sold chassis to the leasing companies, the ocean carriers negotiated contractual arrangements with the leasing companies acquiring those assets to ensure a continued supply of chassis. As a result of these commercial deals, ocean carriers began announcing to motor carriers that transportation of their marine containers must be on a chassis rented with the leasing company designated by the ocean carrier at rates already set in the purchase contract with the chassis leasing company.}}{{cite news |url=https://www.joc.com/trucking-logistics/trucking-equipment/chassis-%E2%80%98utility%E2%80%99-model-proposed-ports-hubs_20190613.html |title=Chassis 'utility' model proposed for ports, hubs |last=Mongelluzzo |first=Bill |date=June 13, 2019 |website=JOC.com |access-date=December 30, 2020 |url-access=limited |quote='Carriers bought the chassis and gave them away for free to attract business,' Rooney said. Then, carriers went almost full circle by renting back the chassis from the equipment providers and offering them at discounted rates, once again to attract business, he said.}}{{cite news |url=https://www.joc.com/trucking-logistics/us-truckers-shippers-frustrated-chassis-splits-shortages_20180530.html |title=US truckers, shippers frustrated with chassis splits, shortages |last=Ashe |first=Ari |date=May 30, 2018 |website=JOC.com |access-date=December 23, 2020 |url-access=limited |quote='in Memphis, we run a TRAC pool and then we contribute to the CCM pool. If we have assets devoted to the TRAC pool for the steamship line for an agreed upon rate, that’s the asset the motor carrier needs to use.'}} This means that at wheeled facilities, containers are mounted onto chassis selected by the steamship line before the trucker arrives to pickup.{{cite report |author=Fact Finding 28: The Memphis Supply Chain Innovation Team |title=A Single Gray Chassis Pool Fosters Fluid Commerce and Improves Supply Chain Velocity |url=https://www.fmc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/MemphisSupplyChainWhitepaper.pdf |page=2 |access-date=December 29, 2020 |quote=truckers do not have a choice on chassis provisioning when rail operators have a mounted operational procedure. Containers are available as a mounted unit; shippers and truckers must take the unit as tendered or wait in line for a flip fee to move that container onto another chassis.}} Some disadvantages of this system are that it can restrict truckers' choice of which chassis to use{{cite web |url=https://www.hapag-lloyd.com/en/news-insights/news/2016/01/hapag-lloyd-chassis-program-usa-chassis-provider-summary-janu_45854.html |title=Hapag-Lloyd Chassis Program – USA Chassis Provider Summary - January Update - Chassis Program Update |quote=In cases where Hapag-Lloyd is responsible for chassis usage, we will only accept usage from the above providers and pools. If these providers are not used, the trucker will be charged directly, regardless of the terms of chassis provision.}} and it can cause "chassis splits", which are when a container and its required chassis pool are in different locations.

File:Container terminal = 東京大井埠頭シャーシープール【 Pictures taken in Japan 】--②.jpg

In the United States, container chassis shortages are a chronic problem, especially during peaks in container volume.{{cite news |url=https://www.joc.com/trucking-logistics/long-tail-us-chassis-shortage-snaps-shippers_20190122.html |title=Long tail of US chassis shortage snaps shippers |author= |date=January 22, 2019 |website=JOC.com |url-access=limited |access-date=December 23, 2020 |quote=The container chassis shortage ranks with the truck driver shortage as a perennial issue that returns to disrupt supply chains whenever freight demand surges.}} There are several causes of chassis shortages, but a common problem is excessive off-terminal dwell time. Off-terminal dwell time is the length of time a shipper keeps a chassis/container at their premises. Long dwell times mean less free chassis on-site at ports and rail ramps.{{cite web |url=https://www.morethanshipping.com/why-there-is-a-chassis-shortage-at-the-ports-of-los-angeles-and-long-beach/ |title=WHY THERE IS A CHASSIS SHORTAGE AT THE PORTS OF LOS ANGELES AND LONG BEACH |last=Ozkan |first=Utku |date=October 9, 2020 |website=More Than Shipping |access-date=December 22, 2020 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.joc.com/port-news/us-ports/chassis-equipment-issues-reemerge-la%E2%80%93lb-port-complex_20200723.html |title=Chassis equipment issues reemerge at LA–LB port complex |last=Mongelluzzo |first=Bill |date=July 23, 2020 |website=JOC.com |url-access=limited |access-date=December 22, 2020 }}

File:APLcontainer.jpg]]

{{Portal|Transport}}

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

• Semi-trailer
• Containerization
• Intermodal freight transport
• Container port
• Sidelifter
• Drayage
• ISO 6346
• Swap body
• Roadrailer

{{div col end}}

{{reflist}}

;Further reading

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite tech report |first1=Thomas |last1=O'Brien |first2=Tyler |last2=Reeb |first3=Annette |last3=Kunitsa |title=Mitigating Urban Freight Through Effective Management of Truck Chassis |institution=METRANS Transportation Center |date=February 2016 |url=https://metrans.org/assets/research/2-2%20Chassis-OBrien%20final.pdf}}
• {{cite book |author=National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. |author-link=National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine |title=Truck Drayage Productivity Guide |location= Washington, DC |publisher=National Academies Press |year=2011 |chapter=Chapter 8: Container Chassis Supply Time and Delays |doi=10.17226/14536 |isbn=978-0-309-15552-6}}

{{refend}}

{{Commonscat}}

• [https://www.freightwaves.com/news/how-truckers-can-avoid-a-bad-dray-day How truckers can avoid a bad dray day] – Six tips for truckers about chassis pools
• [https://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1-think-tank/post/31474-at-ag-exporters-meeting-the-chassis-debate-rages-on At Ag Exporters’ Meeting, the Chassis Debate Rages On] – Discussion about the two types of chassis pools, co-op and proprietary
• [http://original.trainlife.com/magazines/pages/656/45541/june-1999-page-17 Athearn HO scale chassis] – Model Railroading magazine, June 1999
• [https://www.rrpicturearchives.net/rsRRList.aspx?id=25 RR Rolling Stock Category: Chassis] – Picture archives of intermodal chassis in US

{{Intermodal containers}}

Chassis

Category:Intermodal transport

Category:Freight transport

Category:Port infrastructure

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