CSXI planning chassis pools for Tampa, Columbus

CSXI planning chassis pools for Tampa, Columbus    CSX Intermodal said it plans to implement a steamship line-oriented version of a neutral container chassis pool at container yards in Tampa, Fla., and Columbus, Ohio, effective Jan. 15.
   CSXI, a unit of CSX Corp. that provides intermodal rail services using all Class I railroads as underlying carriers, said the two chassis pools are being set up in conjunction with the Ocean Carrier Equipment Management Association (OCEMA), an association of U.S. and international ocean carriers that deals with equipment issues.
   A neutral chassis pool established by the Virginia Port Authority is already in place at VPA-controlled terminals, but the CSXI plan differs in that the yards will be managed following a co-op model developed by ocean carriers.
   The Tampa operation will be known as the Florida Consolidated Chassis Pool, LLC (FCCP), and is also being referred to as the OCEMA FCCP pool.
   In Columbus, the chassis pool at the CSXI Columbus Intermodal facility will be managed by a CSXI-authorized entity called Rail Pool.
   At both locations, the pool will be open to any international ocean carriers that choose to participate. The pools will not handle domestic containers.
   CSXI said it will still handle lifts from non-pool-participating private chassis fleets. There will be a lift charge of $50 for delivering a chassis to the common yard, plus a $75 assessment for handling an unassociated container.