Ocean carriers are committed to ending the 50-year-old practice of supplying chassis to their customers in the U.S. - the only market in the world that does so - but industry experts predicted it will take several years before equipment suppliers decide upon a model or models that meet the needs of shippers.
"The process will take several years, but not decades," said Dick Coleman, president of ContainerPort Group, a company that provides inland terminal and transportation services for shipping lines, shippers and receivers.
About a dozen ocean carriers this past year announced their intention of getting out of the chassis business. However, most carriers have yet to provide any details as to how they intend to divest themselves of chassis and who will replace them as suppliers of equipment to their customers.
