DCLI to Increase Chassis Charges for Third Time Since December 2016
DirectChassis Link Inc. will raise rental rates on chassis for the third time since December, according to a company announcement.
Effective July 1, chassis rates will increase to $19.50 from $19 in the Southeast and to $21.50 from $20.50 in the Midwest. Rates will not change in the Northeast, Gulf Coast, Pacific Northwest and Southern California.
DCLI wrote in a note to customers that the increase will help to pay for outfitting chassis with radial tires, LED lights and other upgraded features and buying new chassis.
As Transport Topics reported, DCLI has added radial tires to about 14,000 chassis since 2014 and plans to fix about 6,000 chassis each year. It’s also bought 7,200 new chassis with radials and LEDs.
DCLI owns about 136,000 marine chassis in the United States.
“Truckers don’t want to come in and get a chassis that’s not in good condition and waste time getting it repaired before they can take it. For truckers, it’s all about turn time, especially with the new electronic logging mandate, they have to maximize their productivity,” said DCLI Chief Operating Officer Ron Joseph.
Trucking executives expressed mixed opinions on whether they’ve seen noticeable changes in the quality of chassis in recent years.
DCLI raised rates in certain markets on April 1 and on Dec. 15, 2016.
