OOCL stops chassis provision in Houston, Savannah

   The liner carrier OOCL said Monday it will no longer provide chassis for import and export shipments to and from facilities in Houston and Savannah from July 1.
   The decision to stop providing chassis in Houston also applies to facilities in McAllen and Pharr, Texas.
   “All motor carriers, either working as suppliers for OOCL or OOCL customers, must provide chassis for these shipments,” the carrier said in a customer notice. “Chassis usage fees for merchant (container yard) moves should be billed by the motor carrier directly to their customer.”
   OOCL said that if truckers plan on renting or leasing chassis at the three locations in Texas, the carrier’s recommended provider is TRAC Intermodal.
   “Motor carriers are encouraged to execute interchange agreements with TRAC Connect as soon as possible to ensure a smooth transition,” the line said.
   In Savannah, OOCL’s recommended provider is Direct ChassisLink.
   Liner carriers operating in North America are at various stages of pulling out of the chassis provision business. Most lines have informed customers they will no longer provide chassis and are doing so on a phased, region-by-region basis. – Eric Johnson