Hapag-Lloyd to phase out chassis

Hapag-Lloyd to phase out chassis    Hapag-Lloyd has become the latest carrier to announce plans to reduce its involvement in the container chassis business.
   The German carrier said it would gradually implement a revised chassis program throughout the United States in 2011 and no longer provide chassis for “merchant haulage” where a shipper arranges the movement of containers from the port to an inland destination.
   Hapag-Lloyd said there would be no change in “carrier haulage” where it provides delivery to the shipper or consignees door.
   The carrier said the program will begin April 1 in Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Philadelphia and gradually expand according to the following schedule:
   * May 1: Dallas, El Paso, Houston ad Laredo, Texas; Mobile, Ala.; New Orleans; and Kansas City and St. Louis, Mo.
   * June 1: Buffalo and New York-New Jersey including South Kearney, N.J.; and Boston-Worcester.
   * July 1: Huntsville, Ala.; Memphis and Nashville, Tenn.; Oakland, Calif.; Denver; and Salt Lake City.
   * Aug. 1: Portland, Ore., and Seattle.
   * Sept. 1: Atlanta and Savannah, Ga.; Birmingham, Ala.; Charleston, S.C.; Charlotte, N.C.; and Jacksonville and Tampa, Fla.
   * Oct. 1: Chicago; Detroit; Indianapolis; Louisville, Ky.; Milwaukee; Ohio Valley; Minneapolis; and Omaha.
   * Date to be announced: Phoenix and Norfolk-Hampton Roads, Va.
   The company noted it does not provide chassis in Miami for either carrier or merchant haulage and that this practice will continue.