[010215.EN.BIZ] LA-Long Beach Truckers Prepare To Launch 'Grey' Chassis Pool on March 1

COMPANIES forming a "grey", or interchangeable, pool of truck chassis in the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are planning a March 1 launch date, reports American Shipper.

Speaking to a gathering of American Apparel and Footwear Association, Flexi-Van Leasing vice president Phil Connors said companies contributing to one of several chassis pools will begin exchanging information this week.

Talks among representatives of Flexi-Van, TRAC Intermodal, Direct ChassisLink and other companies like China Shipping will focus on marshalling the 80,000 chassis that will enter what is known at the "pool of pools".

Starting March 1, said Mr Conners, harbour truckers leasing chassis from one pool such as Los Angeles Basin Pool, which his firm runs, will return chassis to another marine terminal that formerly would only accept one company's equipment.

Mr Connors said companies will be able to lease or return chassis at a wide variety of locations at both container terminals in the port as well as railway depots.

Much of the congestion at Los Angeles and Long Beach, New York and Hampton Roads can be blamed on the rigidity of the old chassis system, he said.

Source : HKSG.