Ocean Carriers, IANA Reject ATA 'Roadability' Initiative

A proposal by American Trucking Associations to make intermodal terminal operators responsible for the roadworthiness of containers and chassis was sharply criticized by ocean carriers last week.

The Intermodal Association of North America also weighed in with its opposition to the petition by ATA and its Intermodal Conference to have the Federal Highway Administration change current regulations making drivers responsible for the roadability of intermodal equipment. Ports and railroads previously registered their opposition (8-9, p. 51).

“The ATA petition is but one piece of a broad-based legislative strategy to shift the burden of inspection and maintenance away from the motor carriers and on to nearly everyone else: ocean carriers, railroads, terminal operators and even major shippers, some of whom may be equipment owners but others who are not, and all of whom tender equipment to the motor carriers,” said the Equipment Interchange Discussion Agreement, which represents nine major foreign-flag ocean carriers.

Trucking associations are pushing for state legislation, resulting in a patchwork of laws, EIDA complained. The Illinois General Assembly is working on a roadability bill that would forbid the owner of an unsafe vehicle from offering it to a trucker. Similar laws are already on the books in South Carolina and Louisiana (See related story, "Illinois Governor Adjusts Intermodal Responsibility").

Transferring responsibility to terminal operators would cost about $200 a chassis per year and would increase operating and capital costs, EIDA attorney Kelly O’Connor argued in the group’s comments.

“To help alleviate the problem of increased travel times and delays, ocean carriers would have to purchase additional equipment, implement evening and weekend operating hours, and in some instances expand existing inspection facilities and space, which would require significant capital improvements,” O’Connor wrote.

ATA argued that the company that actually interchanges the equipment, whether terminal or carrier, should have the responsibility of ensuring that it meets federal safety standards.

For the full story, see the Sept. 6 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.