19 January 2010

Charlotte, North Carolina - Direct ChassisLink (DCLI) will expand its chassis program to Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Louisville, Detroit, Evansville, Indianapolis and the entire Midwest region effective March 1, 2010, offering chassis for use to drayage companies at marine terminals and railroads.  The third phase of the program will increase the DCLI fleet available to draymen to over 16,000 chassis.  Drayage companies, customers and terminal operators will be provided with greater chassis efficiency, improved transport safety and a reduced environmental footprint. Chassis that originate from any of these inland area rail or container yard (CY) terminals will be subject to the DCLI model. Drayage companies must have a valid DCLI interchange agreement in place in order to take full advantage of the program.

"We are continuing to get positive feedback from the industry as we move toward our goal of promoting this national chassis program," said Andy Chinigo, Maersk Inc. Vice President, who is heading the project.  "We currently have 768 truckers participating and benefiting in the program with the flexibility that they require.  Draymen are reporting greater Hours of Service efficiency.  This alleviates congestion as well as diesel-related emissions and improves air quality in the communities where they live and serve.   This supports the quality-of-life, environmental goals and operational efficiency that the industry strives to attain."

The DCLI website, www.chassislink.com, contains information regarding the chassis interchange agreement, credit application, start/stop locations, emergency road service reimbursement policy, local and corporate contacts, and facility/terminal and port information.

A valid DCLI interchange agreement is necessary for the chassis regardless of the ocean carrier's equipment. A drayage company will be able to utilize the same DCLI chassis multiple times in one day for any ocean carrier's or other container moves.  Upon return to one of the designated locations, the daily usage fee will stop on the chassis.  An invoice for the calendar days from gate out to gate in will then be invoiced directly to the draymen.

Contact: Mary Ann Kotlarich, Maersk Line, Director of External Communications, nammedia@maersk.com, +1 704-571-4840