Post by VAcontainerhauler on Jun 20, 2009 6:07:26 GMT -5
Trucker Warns of Maersk Chassis Costs
Bill Mongelluzzo
Jun 20, 2009
Bi-State Motor Carriers leader asks NY-NJ to question ocean carrier
A trucking association leader in the New York area warned members Friday they could face higher charges because of Maersk Line’s decision to start a nationwide chassis pool.
The ocean carrier “should have discussed this program with non-controlled motor truckers before they announced it,” Jeff Bader, president of the Association of Bi-State Motor Carriers, wrote in a letter urging members in New York and New Jersey to contact Maersk with their concerns.
The world’s largest container line, Maersk has a fleet of 90,000 chassisa and said Thursday it will make 5,000 available to drayage companies, ocean carriers, marine terminal operators and railroads in New York and New Jersey. Eventually, all of the assets will be available for lease in a nationwide chassis pool.
Bader said in a discussion with the management of the leasing program, he learned Maersk will “no longer supply chassis for any moves which are not door moves.” In a so-called store-door move, a shipping line or its customer designates a harbor trucking company to move a container from the harbor to a warehouse.
Harbor truckers not designated for store-door moves will therefore have to pay a rental charge “and some maintenance,” Bader said. “It is common practice in the Port of New York and New Jersey for the lines to supply chassis with the containers at no charge.”
Maersk intends to establish a rental charge for the chassis similar to what other chassis pools now charge their members, but Maersk will have primary maintenance and repair responsibility and will “definitely not pass off that responsibility to others,” said spokesman Dana Magliola.
Maersk’s announcement came as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration maintenance regulations took effect on June 17 regarding the “roadability” of intermodal chassis.
Bill Mongelluzzo
Jun 20, 2009
Bi-State Motor Carriers leader asks NY-NJ to question ocean carrier
A trucking association leader in the New York area warned members Friday they could face higher charges because of Maersk Line’s decision to start a nationwide chassis pool.
The ocean carrier “should have discussed this program with non-controlled motor truckers before they announced it,” Jeff Bader, president of the Association of Bi-State Motor Carriers, wrote in a letter urging members in New York and New Jersey to contact Maersk with their concerns.
The world’s largest container line, Maersk has a fleet of 90,000 chassisa and said Thursday it will make 5,000 available to drayage companies, ocean carriers, marine terminal operators and railroads in New York and New Jersey. Eventually, all of the assets will be available for lease in a nationwide chassis pool.
Bader said in a discussion with the management of the leasing program, he learned Maersk will “no longer supply chassis for any moves which are not door moves.” In a so-called store-door move, a shipping line or its customer designates a harbor trucking company to move a container from the harbor to a warehouse.
Harbor truckers not designated for store-door moves will therefore have to pay a rental charge “and some maintenance,” Bader said. “It is common practice in the Port of New York and New Jersey for the lines to supply chassis with the containers at no charge.”
Maersk intends to establish a rental charge for the chassis similar to what other chassis pools now charge their members, but Maersk will have primary maintenance and repair responsibility and will “definitely not pass off that responsibility to others,” said spokesman Dana Magliola.
Maersk’s announcement came as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration maintenance regulations took effect on June 17 regarding the “roadability” of intermodal chassis.