Friday, June 19, 2009
Maersk Line announces new chassis business model in the U.S.
Friday, 19 June 2009
Maersk Line has announced that it will implement a program to change its longstanding chassis fleet business model in the U.S. Under the new business model , Maersk Line will offer their chassis for use throughout the U.S. to draymen, ocean carriers, marine terminals and railroads. By offering superior flexibility to its users this model will provide greater efficiencies than possible today. This model allows the industry to fundamentally change its carbon footprint. When implemented nationally, the carbon dioxide reductions are estimated to be over 4,000 tons. Maersk Equipment Services Corporation (MESC), a maintenance and repair management group, has been providing chassis to Maersk Line. The new business model continues MESC and Maersk’s commitments to environmental performance and overall efficiency while improving safety and reliability.
“Truckers will be able to utilize the same chassis for multiple moves at different terminals, and for different Lines, driving out inefficiencies and providing the supply chain benefits that only the user controlling the chassis can deliver. When fully implemented, it will improve port air quality and reduce port area congestion.” said Maersk Inc. Vice President Andy Chinigo, who is heading the initial phases of the project. “The present chassis model has outlived its time. We can influence the carbon footprint that our industry creates through this approach.”
The EPA’s SmartWay Transport Partnership recommends the use of common chassis to reduce the environmental impact of drayage. “According to SmartWay, common chassis pools can help trucking companies save fuel and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by minimizing unnecessary truck movements and idling associated with switching chassis. Drayage trucks using pooled chassis could save up to 0.8 gallons per trip, reducing nitrogen oxide and particulate matter emissions,” said Lee Kindberg, Maersk’s Environmental Director. “This approach is more sustainable for the environment. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) DrayFLEET model estimates that if all drayage nationally switched to this model, the carbon footprint of drayage would be reduced by 50,000 to 70,000 tons per year, or the equivalent of saving over 5 million gallons of gasoline. This will directly benefit the communities in which we work and live.”
“Trucks will not have to wait in slow-moving lines on marine terminals to pick up a chassis, resulting in fewer emissions. Because of the increased efficiency, drivers can get a customer’s container from the terminal faster, better supporting customer needs. In short, with well- managed and well-maintained chassis pools, everyone wins,” said Bill Williams, Maersk Line Vice President of Health, Safety & Environment. The safety benefits are also significant. “When a driver holds a chassis longer, there will be less wear and tear on the equipment compared to the current practices in which chassis are connected and disconnected from trucks constantly. Marine Terminals will see safety benefits from less congestion; they won’t have to store large quantities of chassis on terminals and reduced congestion contributes to better traffic flow,” Williams said.
The first phase of this program will begin in the third quarter in the Port of New York and New Jersey region, where Maersk will offer a fleet of over 5,000 chassis to industry users. MESC will provide leasing and pool management services through a new division, Direct ChassisLink. Maersk has a fleet of 90,000 chassis in the U.S. which represents one of the largest chassis fleets in North America.
Source: Maersk Line
