Maersk to expand chassis program to Midwest

Maersk plans to expand its Direct ChassisLink program throughout the Midwest and the Ohio Valley as of March 1.

Under the expansion, the program will offer chassis to drayage companies from select container yards and rail ramps in Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Louisville, Detroit, Evansville, and Indianapolis that will cover the entire Midwest and Ohio Valley regions.

The third phase of the Direct ChassisLink program will increase the fleet available to draymen to over 16,000 chassis from more then 25 locations covering activity in more than 10 states.

“We currently have 768 truckers participating in the program and benefiting with the flexibility that they require,” said Andy Chinigo, the Maersk vice president who is heading the project.

Maersk said the program will provide drayage companies, customers and terminal operators with greater chassis efficiency, improved transport safety and a reduced environmental footprint.

The company said chassis that originate from any of the included marine, inland area rail or container yard terminals will be subject to the DCLI model. Drayage companies must have a valid DCLI interchange agreement in place in order to take full advantage of the program.

The company said a valid DCLI interchange agreement is necessary for the chassis regardless of the ocean carrier’s equipment.

A drayage company will be able to utilize the same DCLI chassis multiple times in one day for any ocean carrier’s or other container moves.

Upon return to one of the designated locations, the daily usage fee will stop on the chassis. An invoice for the calendar days from gate out to gate in will then be issued directly to the draymen.

Source: http://www.joc.com