The U.S. arm of Maersk Line is extending its Direct ChassisLink program to Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Rochester, Worcester, and Pittsburgh as of Feb. 1 of next year.
Maersk said DCLI will offer chassis for use in these market areas to drayage companies at ocean carriers, marine terminals and railroads, expanding the current program from the New York/New Jersey area. The second phase of the program will increase the DCLI fleet available to draymen to over 7,500 chassis.
Under the program, truckers pay $11 per day for chassis but can use them any way they want until they return them. The program is administered by Direct ChassisLink Inc., a subsidiary of Maersk Equipment.
Truckers resisted the DCLI program when it was first introduced but seem to be adapting to it. In the U.S., ocean carriers traditionally have provided truckers with free chassis, a practice dating to container shipping’s roots in U.S. domestic transportation, when ship lines marketed sea and land transportation as a package deal. In Europe, by contrast, forwarders and truckers generally retained control over inland transportation and provided their own chassis.
Under the DCLI program, chassis that originate from any of the port marine, inland area rail or container yard terminals will be subject to the DCLI model starting Feb. 1. Drayage companies must have a valid DCLI interchange agreement in place in order to take full advantage of the program.
“739 truckers are currently participating in the New York/New Jersey area program and customers are benefiting from the flexibility that this program offers." said Andy Chinigo, the Maersk Inc. vice president who is heading the project. “By promoting a more sustainable business practice and offering an innovative chassis solution, draymen are reporting greater hours of service efficiency, which in turn alleviates congestion and diesel-related emissions, improves air quality by supporting the quality-of-life and environmental goals of our nation's ports, transportation infrastructure and the communities they serve.”
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. The calendar days from gate out to gate in will then be invoiced directly to the draymen. A valid DCLI interchange agreement is necessary for the chassis regardless of the ocean carrier’s equipment.
Maersk said DCLI will offer chassis for use in these market areas to drayage companies at ocean carriers, marine terminals and railroads, expanding the current program from the New York/New Jersey area. The second phase of the program will increase the DCLI fleet available to draymen to over 7,500 chassis.
Under the program, truckers pay $11 per day for chassis but can use them any way they want until they return them. The program is administered by Direct ChassisLink Inc., a subsidiary of Maersk Equipment.
Truckers resisted the DCLI program when it was first introduced but seem to be adapting to it. In the U.S., ocean carriers traditionally have provided truckers with free chassis, a practice dating to container shipping’s roots in U.S. domestic transportation, when ship lines marketed sea and land transportation as a package deal. In Europe, by contrast, forwarders and truckers generally retained control over inland transportation and provided their own chassis.
Under the DCLI program, chassis that originate from any of the port marine, inland area rail or container yard terminals will be subject to the DCLI model starting Feb. 1. Drayage companies must have a valid DCLI interchange agreement in place in order to take full advantage of the program.
“739 truckers are currently participating in the New York/New Jersey area program and customers are benefiting from the flexibility that this program offers." said Andy Chinigo, the Maersk Inc. vice president who is heading the project. “By promoting a more sustainable business practice and offering an innovative chassis solution, draymen are reporting greater hours of service efficiency, which in turn alleviates congestion and diesel-related emissions, improves air quality by supporting the quality-of-life and environmental goals of our nation's ports, transportation infrastructure and the communities they serve.”
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. The calendar days from gate out to gate in will then be invoiced directly to the draymen. A valid DCLI interchange agreement is necessary for the chassis regardless of the ocean carrier’s equipment.