Chicago/Midwest – Chassis Situation

Posted on Mar 2

Chassis providers TRAC Intermodal has already relocated 400 chassis into the Chicago Area, with plans for an additional 1,500 chassis to be moved there within the next 3 months. These units come in addition to 2,100 chassis TRAC moved last year.Another provider, DCLI, will relocate 450 chassis within the next few weeks and plans to add an additional 1,500 units into the Chicago-Ohio Valley Area within the next three months, adding further to the existing pool of about 13,000 chassis there.The providers hope that this will counteract the current slowdown caused by a combination of increased freight volumes, extended street dwells and the impact of recent winter weather. Additionally the chassis providers try to improve chassis efficiencies in collaboration with carriers and shippers by improving the turnaround and usage times of units in operation.Of course, the chassis shortage is only part of the problems in the Midwest, additionally driver shortages and the impact of the ELD mandates add to the situation.