DCLI acquires chassis fleet from NYK

The deal is increasing Direct ChassisLink’s fleet of owned, leased and managed chassis to approximately 133,000.    Direct ChassisLink (DCLI), one of the three major providers of intermodal marine chassis in the United States, has acquired the chassis fleet of NYK Line (North America) Inc., which consists of approximately 11,000 chassis, DCLI said Tuesday.
   DCLI CEO Bill Shea said, “This transaction brings our fleet of owned, leased and managed chassis to approximately 133,000 and will ensure that we are able to continue delivering a reliable supply of marine chassis to our ever-expanding customer base.”
   DCLI also manages approximately 86,000 intermodal containers for third parties through its differentiated asset management platform, REZ-1. A DCLI spokesperson explained the  third parties are intermodal marketing fompanies and other transportation intermediaries that use domestic rail containers in the EMP and UMAX programs on the Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern, and CSX railroads.
   The chassis currently operate in pools managed by Consolidated Chassis Management, LLC and its affiliates (CCM), and in the Hampton Roads Chassis Pool.
   In conjunction with the transaction, NYK has designated DCLI as its exclusive chassis provider in CCM pools.

   Effective March 1, 2017, motor carriers contracted directly by customers of NYK for their merchant haulage shipments will begin receiving chassis rental invoices from DCLI in the following pools:
     • Chicago & Ohio Valley Consolidated pool (COCP), operating in Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Indianapolis, Louisville, Marysville and Georgetown;
     • Gulf Consolidated pool (GCCP), operating in Dallas, El Paso, Houston, Laredo, Mobile, New Orleans and San Antonio;
     • Mid-South Consolidated pool (MCCP), operating in Huntsville, Nashville and Memphis;
     • Midwest Consolidated pool (MWCP), operating in Kansas City, Omaha and St. Louis;
     • And South Atlantic Consolidated pool (SACP), operating in Atlanta, Birmingham, Charleston, Charlotte, Jacksonville, Savannah, Tampa and Wilmington.

   “This acquisition continues the trend of ocean carrier divestures of their marine chassis fleets to independent leasing companies like DCLI, and of DCLI’s ongoing commitment to offer well-maintained, high quality chassis and related services to the intermodal industry,” DCLI said.
   DCLI is owned by EQT, an investment firm headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden.