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What is a chassis?

A chassis is the wheeled frame that carries the intermodal container over the road.

A standard container does not have its own road wheels.

The chassis can come from:

  • an ocean carrier,
  • chassis pool,
  • leasing provider,
  • motor carrier,
  • customer arrangement.

Who owns/provides it can affect:

  • access,
  • rental/use charges,
  • return location,
  • free days,
  • interchange terms.

What is UIIA?

The Uniform Intermodal Interchange and Facilities Access Agreement is the standard industry agreement used for a large share of intermodal equipment interchanges in North America.

It creates common rules between participating motor carriers and equipment providers.

It does not mean every provider has identical commercial terms.

Equipment-provider addenda and separate agreements still matter.

Chassis safety is not optional

Before operating intermodal equipment over the road, federal rules require the driver accepting the equipment to inspect the required components and be satisfied they are in good working order.

Known damage/defects must be reported when the equipment is returned.

That is why a bad chassis can stop a move even when the container itself is ready.

What is a split chassis?

A split occurs when the chassis is not available where the container is picked up.

Example:

  1. driver goes to chassis pool/depot,
  2. retrieves chassis,
  3. drives to marine terminal,
  4. picks up container.

That creates additional time/miles and often an accessorial charge.

What is a pre-pull?

A pre-pull removes the import container from the terminal before the final delivery appointment and stages it at a dray yard.

Example:

  • container LFD Friday,
  • customer can only receive Monday,
  • dray carrier retrieves Friday,
  • stores loaded container at secure yard,
  • delivers Monday.

The pre-pull can exchange terminal demurrage exposure for:

  • pre-pull charge,
  • yard storage,
  • extra chassis days.

It can still be the better operational decision.

When a pre-pull can help

  • LFD before receiving appointment,
  • no suitable terminal slot on delivery morning,
  • early-morning warehouse delivery,
  • weekend/holiday terminal closure,
  • uncertain terminal conditions,
  • long drive from terminal to consignee.

When it may not help

  • no secure yard,
  • reefer power not available,
  • special container cannot be staged,
  • hazmat restrictions,
  • chassis shortage,
  • permit/overweight restrictions,
  • customer can receive immediately.

Yard storage

Private dray-yard storage can help decouple the port schedule from the customer's schedule.

Confirm:

  • daily rate,
  • loaded/empty rules,
  • chassis charge,
  • gate hours,
  • security,
  • reefer plug/genset,
  • hazmat acceptance,
  • weekend billing.

Do not confuse private yard storage with terminal demurrage.

Drop-and-pick

A drop move leaves the loaded container/chassis at the customer's site and returns later.

This can reduce driver waiting but ties up equipment.

Questions:

  • Can the site safely hold the container/chassis?
  • Is the chassis allowed to remain?
  • How many days?
  • Who pays chassis/container equipment time?
  • Can the empty be picked up before free time expires?

Street turns

A street turn can allow an empty import container to be reassigned for export without returning it to the original terminal/depot first, when authorized.

IANA provides a Street Interchange Application and Equipment Return Location Directory used by participating parties.

Never assume a street turn is allowed. It must be authorized.

Heavy containers

A heavy container may need:

  • tri-axle chassis,
  • different tractor/chassis configuration,
  • permit,
  • route review,
  • transload.

A chassis solution is part of the weight solution.

Bottom line

Before dispatch, know:

container → chassis → pickup → delivery/staging → empty return

If one of those equipment handoffs is unknown, the move is not fully planned.

Related:

Not sure whether to pre-pull?

Send the free time, the receiving hours and the delivery date and we will help you compare the cost of moving early against the cost of waiting.

Request a Freight Quote

Official / industry references

  • UIIA: https://www.uiia.org/
  • IANA equipment-provider resources: https://intermodal.org/uiia/uiia-equipment-provider-contact-information
  • FMCSA driver responsibility: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/49/390.42
  • FMCSA IEP overview: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/intermodal-equipment-providers