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Issue 5 2020 - FBJNA


part of their s ervi c e ,”


he says. “That led to the emergence of multiple chassis leasing companies that were independently servicing the ports and that was contributing to severe chassis shortages.” He adds that before the


three companies pooled their assets, chassis oſten were not where they were needed at the time of need. So, the two ports


facilitated a series of discussions that resulted in an agreement between the three chassis-leasing companies to create greater chassis interoperability across the port complex in a model now known as the Pool of Pools. Dr. Hacegaba notes that the


chassis-providing companies are still three discreet businesses, but the system allows assets to be interchanged. For example, a chassis interchanged at a marine


///INTERMODALISM


The Port of Los Angeles participates in the Pool of Pools. (Photo courtesy of Port of Los Angeles.)


terminal in Long Beach may be returned to a rail ramp in Los Angeles. Prior to the POP, the operation of multiple independent chassis pools in Los Angeles and Long Beach created situations where chassis in different pools were segregated at facilities for use only by certain user bases, and returnable only to a fraction of the facilities otherwise available to receive chassis. Hacegaba says these inefficiencies oſten resulted in lost time and revenue to a motor carrier, duplicative repositioning, and confusion on terminals and rail ramps. “One of the benefits of the


POP is that assets are now more efficiently repositioned to where the need is,” says Hacegaba. “We continue to engage the pool of pools to ensure there is an adequate supply of chassis circulating in the system. It’s not perfect but we are continually


working to improve it working in collaboration with our industry partners.”


Stay the Course


The spokesperson for the Port of Los Angeles noted that some truckers and their representative associations had created their own chassis fleet to have more control over good order chassis. “For the Port of LA, the current


business model will likely remain in place for some time but with some modifications,” he says. “We could look at getting chassis off terminals and on port property to increase the road-ready chassis pool and permit truckers even faster truck turn times.” Dr. Hacegaba notes the


COVID-19 crisis has heightened the need for tight communication and coordination in a supply chain of highly interdependent businesses that are not necessarily aligned. “As a port authority, we have the end-to-end view and help to drive efficiencies by enabling alignment.”


POP Background


The “Pool of Pools” (POP) is a multi-pool agreement between the three major marine container chassis pools operating in the San Pedro Basin port complex. DCLP, TPSP and FLBP developed this agreement in response to port stakeholder desires to create greater chassis interoperability across the port complex. The POP began operations


in 2015 and encompasses a combined fleet of over 62,300 marine container chassis with


mutual start/stop locations covering 11 major marine terminals and four major rail facilities, through which the vast majority of container cargo is transported into or out of southern California. Within POP operations,


any chassis contributed to the DCLP, TPSP or FLBP fleet can be utilized by authorized users in all of the participating pools. POP chassis may be interchanged out or returned to any of the eighteen 18 start/ stop locations.


The Premier Pacific Gateway


The Port of Long Beach offers you the best service on the West Coast, moving your goods to and from Asia and Latin America with speed and reliability.


IMCC Position on Chassis


The IMCC will continue to pursue a business model chassis solution, which will: Promote enhanced


intermodal freight transportation through a national pool of fully interchangeable chassis suitable for international ISO containers (“gray” chassis fleet); Provide intermodal freight


stakeholders with a supply of safe, roadable chassis consistent with the requirements of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety


Administration (FMCSA); Maximize chassis efficiency,


utilization, and flexibility; Provide an efficient means for


chassis purchasing, financing, distribution, servicing, maintenance, refurbishment, and retirement; Modernize the international


container chassis fleet; and Make chassis available


under the terms of the Uniform Intermodal Interchange and Facilities Access Agreement (UIIA).


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