Spot shortages of intermodal chassis are surfacing and uncertainty is building about the future chassis supply as truckers take more responsibility for the equipment that traditionally came from ocean carriers, industry officials said.

More equipment options are unfolding for truckers as they take on additional responsibility for chassis formerly supplied by ocean carriers.

Drayage carriers said they are pressing ocean cargo lines for more details about plans to make truckers responsible for supplying intermodal chassis.

Intermodal fleets expect a tough financial and operational transition period as ocean carriers move the responsibility for chassis onto carriers that make international cargo deliveries, according to several carrier officials.

The movement that is shifting chassis management responsibility to drayage carriers gathered more momentum this month, as a major lessor launched a plan aimed at fleets and the largest ocean carrier expanded a chassis rental program.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said it has dropped a requirement that truckers submit a chassis condition report even if the equipment is not defective.

Two more of the world’s five largest shipping companies announced plans to gradually pull out of the U.S. chassis supply business just as new federal chassis safety rules are being implemented.

Two computer systems that support new federal chassis safety rules began working together last week, eliminating one of the stumbling blocks in the implementation process.

Implementation of new intermodal chassis safety rules got off to a rocky start on June 30 because of electronic filing failures, but industry officials said they hope an agreement between two trade groups will make the process easier for truckers and other industry participants.

A generation ago, railroad clerks used four words — “your pig is here” — to inform truckers that an intermodal trailer shipment had arrived and was ready for pickup.