Articles
Chassis King produces periodic articles relating to the shipping, trucking, and intermodal transportation industries. Have an article idea? Email us at sales@chassisking.com.
The Number of Ocean Carriers Getting Rid of Their Chassis Keeps Growing
Posted 3 days ago
Two more shipping carriers, NYK and Evergreen, have decided to halt the supply of container chassis for trucking moves in the United States. The list of carriers now include:
ACL - started on June
OOCL - September 1st
CMA CGM - October 1st
NYK - August 1st
Evergreen - August 15th
The dates are when the carriers will begin phasing out their carrier-owned chassis fleet. Implementation will start in parts of the East coast for most and gradually expand to the rest of the country. Boston, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Miami are some of the East Coast locations.
All of these carriers believe that such a move will improve operational efficiencies and lower total cost. 'The US is the only country where ocean carriers provide chassis and it is neither efficient nor economical to continue to do so', Evergreen said in a statement. And according to ACL, trucking companies and owner operators can manage a chassis fleet more cost-efficiently than an ocean carrier.
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Don't Be Fooled by Imitations!
Posted 6 months ago
When looking to purchase used 20ft tri-axle or 40ft tri-axle chassis there's something you should know - you may get a tandem chassis which has been modified to a tri-axle. Modifications are done in several ways:
* A 48ft tandem chassis is cut down to 40ft and a 3rd axle is installed
* A 3rd axle is installed to a 40ft tandem chassis
* A 3rd axle is installed to a 20ft tandem chassis
These modified tri-axles may cost less than the originals but their reliability can also be lower. The lighter steel construction of the original two axle chassis may not be suitable for stresses of three axles and hence, lead to premature failures. Keep in mind that you will be hauling overweight containers. Not to mention that the modified design may not comply with the US bridge formula and weight laws. For example, a modified 20ft tri-axle chassis may not be long enough or the axles not spaced properly on the 40ft modified tri-axle.
Needless to say, make sure you are getting original tri-axle chassis by asking the right questions and/or using an experienced container chassis surveyor.
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Early Positive Sign
Posted 7 months ago
December and early 2010 stats are encouraging., After 2 1/2 years, container imports saw an increase in December according to the Port Tracker. And this trend should continue in 2010 as retail stores expect sales to improve. "The US economy is experiencing positive growth, with imports on the rise as a result of re-stocking and a rising consumer demand", Brian Hackett from Hackett Associates said.
Early evidence of this trend can be found in the trucking and shipping industry. Truckload demand rose in early 2010 with little sign of a post-holiday downturn, according to Morgan Stanley. Meanwhile NYK Line says it is seeing stronger trans-Pacific demand than expected.
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