Peter T. Leach | Jul 21, 2011 5:05PM EDT
Trac Intermodal, which leases or rents 245,000 marine and domestic chassis to motor carriers throughout North America, is testing a program that includes the cost of maintenance and repair in its daily rental fee.
Until now, Trac has been billing truckers that return rented chassis with damage for the cost of the repair.
“We found that our customers want an all-inclusive package, so we are exploring the idea of building the M&R into the rate that a drayage company would pay,” Trac President and CEO Keith Lovetro said.
Trac and other lessors are picking up increasing business as ocean carriers get out of the business of providing chassis for free at U.S. ports.
Trac has been running a pilot test of the all-inclusive rental program in the Philadelphia area for the last month.
“It’s like paying for the cost of insurance when you rent a car,” Lovetro said.
Under the pilot test, truckers have the option of declining the M&R coverage. If the pilot test in Philadelphia proves successful, Trac plans to roll it out into other markets where it rents chassis. Truckers would have the option of declining the coverage.
Contact Peter T. Leach at pleach@joc.com and follow him on Twitter @petertleach.
