The change to “smarter” chassis is driving efficiency and reducing costs.
Technology is changing the chassis market, offering greater efficiency, reduced costs, and improved reliability for trucking companies and drayage operators. As chassis become “smarter,” shippers gain greater control over complex global supply chains, driving efficiency and reducing costs.
In the past six months, chassis equipment manufacturers and lessors have introduced technologies that provide greater real-time visibility of assets, reduce the time a truck spends being coupled with chassis equipment, and streamline processes through online portals.
To some, it may seem that the chassis business is straightforward. It involves a truck, a trailer, and a container all coming together to transport products. However, with many stakeholders and moving parts, it is actually a complex piece of an equally challenging process—the global supply chain.
With volatility in volumes, changes in routes due to geopolitical unrest, new trading partners, and a lack of clarity about tariffs, every part of the process and each piece of equipment must operate without delays or disruptions. Technology is the key to achieving this level of efficiency in the chassis business.
Real-Time Visibility Improves Access to Chassis Equipment
One of the areas that manufacturers and chassis equipment leasing companies are addressing is the ability to quickly locate chassis. Hours spent manually looking for a chassis at a port or railyard are inefficient and costly, both in terms of the resources needed for this “needle in a haystack” approach and in demurrage and detention fees if appointments at ports are not met.
With many elements involved in handling even one global shipment, delays can add days to shipping schedules, disrupting supply chains.
DCLI, the largest container chassis provider in the US intermodal industry, recently announced plans to use Blackberry Technology and its GPS tracking features to enhance fleet efficiency and set a benchmark for data-driven decision-making within the sector.
“We chose this GPS technology to strengthen fleet quality, reliability, and real-time visibility across our domestic chassis network. It delivers precise location data, integrates seamlessly with our systems, and offers scalability to support the industry’s largest 53’ chassis fleet,” said Mike O’Malley, DCLI’s SVP of Government and Public Relations and HR.
According to DCLI, GPS provides real-time data that powers its digital ecosystem, improving fleet availability and operational decision-making.
“Integrating GPS across our domestic chassis fleet is a foundational step in our vision for a more connected, efficient, and data-driven supply chain,” said Mike O’Malley. “As we continue to expand the deployment of technology solutions, our goal remains to deliver the most dependable and intelligently equipped chassis fleet in North America,” said O’Malley.
With the BlackBerry Radar asset monitoring solution, DCLI expects to gain operational visibility, enabling its customers to optimize asset utilization and deliver more streamlined operations. By providing real-time information, DCLI and its customers will benefit from precise asset tracking, advanced inventory insights, location-based alerts, and optimized driver and terminal efficiency.
This deployment marks a deepening collaboration between the two companies, with DCLI recognizing Radar as a key supplier after years of successful use on part of its fleet.
According to DCLI, BlackBerry Radar is an easy-to-install, asset monitoring solution for chassis, trailers, containers, and railcars, and provides near real-time information around location, cargo load status, motion, mileage, temperature, humidity, door open/close status, handbrake engaged status, and impact events through an intuitive dashboard.
Automation Cuts Time Matching Trucks with Chassis
Stoughton Trailers, an international manufacturer of semi-truck trailers and intermodal container chassis, has taken another approach to driving efficiency and streamlining operations.
The company created proprietary technology that automatically connects trucks and chassis. Electrans Technologies’ Auto Connect system, designed for Stoughton intermodal chassis, automatically links trucks and chassis in under ten seconds. According to the company, with the push of a button, pneumatic airlines, electrical lines, and CAN bus or other communications wiring are fully connected and operational, powering advanced sensors and cameras. At the time of the release in September, Stoughton Trailers’ Andy Aleson, Engineering Manager of Advanced Trailer Development, remarked, “Imagine a driver simply backing up, pushing a button within the cab and seven seconds later driving away with the trailer. Adding, “This is not the distant future. It’s here NOW. We wanted to ensure our intermodal fleet customers are ready to adopt this technology as the industry moves to gain efficiency, improve safety and pursue autonomous operation.”
A representative of Stoughton notes that this chassis technology was developed in collaboration with Clarience Technologies and leverages several of its companies, including Pressure Systems International, Road Ready, Rear-View Safety, and Truck-Lite.
Digital Tools Increase Flexibility and Efficiency
Milestone Equipment Holdings, one of the largest lessors of 53-foot domestic containers in the US, is investing in online technology to streamline chassis operations. The myMilestone portal is an online customer platform that allows customers to manage their use of chassis equipment. Through the portal, a customer can request maintenance, access GPS, and download reports.
The company also offers a separate platform, ChassisFinder.com, to assist customers in finding and reserving available chassis for daily rentals or long-term leases across the United States.
Users go to the website, enter a location, and the type of chassis equipment they need, and have an immediate view of available chassis equipment. The site allows customers to rent equipment for a day or on a short-term basis. After making a reservation, the user will receive immediate pickup details.
Milestone also operates a Pool of Choice model, allowing customers to use any chassis within the pool, regardless of ownership. This online tool offers customers more flexibility and choice in selecting equipment providers.
Software and Integrated Online Tools Support Chassis Business Functions
TRAC Intermodal was one of the first companies to launch technology to help users better manage chassis equipment. In 2020, TRAC HELIX was introduced. This platform was developed to improve the customer experience and operational efficiency.
A collection of custom-built and commercial software systems, TRAC HELIX provides integrated online tools for managing business operations. Rather than addressing operational tasks, such as locating chassis equipment, this technology aims to improve billing accuracy and customer communication while assisting in asset optimization and managing maintenance expenses.
According to TRAC Intermodal, the platform is part of the company’s broader strategy involving AI projects and collaborations to drive digital transformation for its company and the industry as a whole.
Part of the digital transformation was on display in August, when TRAC introduced Trac GeoFleet which integrates GPS tracking into other back-room functions. It is a smart chassis solution that provides customers with guaranteed chassis availability, usage-based billing through geofencing capabilities, and GPS tracking. As Dan Walsh, President and CEO of TRAC Intermodal said of the integration of technologies, “As the largest marine chassis provider and pool manager in the US, TRAC continues to redefine our category by developing smart, on-demand fleet solutions that best fit the evolving needs of our customers.” Adding, “Our customers can now operate with guaranteed access to TRAC’s trusted equipment and advanced visibility tools, while paying only for what they use.”
Beginning with the change in chassis ownership models in 2009, the chassis industry has evolved into a vital part of intermodal transportation, not an afterthought. Manufacturers and lessors are investing in technologies that drive efficiency, reduce costs, and streamline supply chain processes, benefiting trucking companies that use chassis equipment and the supply chains they support.
The increased digitalization of the industry and adoption of newer technologies like AI are driving the next evolution of the chassis industry. Technology is quickly becoming a competitive advantage, and chassis, once viewed as simple trailers, are becoming platforms for data-driven decisions and business intelligence.
