New FMC probe of ocean carriers restricting chassis for truckers, shippers
The Federal Maritime Commission has opened a new investigation into whether ocean carriers are restricting access to chassis, a move that can directly affect how quickly truckers and shippers can pick up and deliver ocean containers.
Chassis are the trailers used to haul containers to and from ports and rail ramps. When chassis aren’t available—or when access is limited—drivers can end up waiting, making extra trips, or losing productive hours even when freight is ready.
The FMC’s probe centers on concerns that some ocean carriers may be limiting chassis availability in ways that disrupt cargo flow. For truckers, that kind of restriction can turn a routine container move into a stalled day, with delays that ripple through dispatch plans, appointment times, and detention exposure.
Why it matters for drivers and shippers: chassis access is a basic piece of the drayage chain. Even when terminals are moving containers, a chassis shortage or restriction can create a bottleneck outside the gate. That can raise operating costs for trucking companies and independent contractors while also delaying deliveries for importers and exporters.
This investigation also ties into a broader set of long-running issues around how equipment is supplied and managed in port trucking. Over the years, responsibility for chassis has shifted and consolidated in many markets, which has made access, fees, and availability a recurring friction point in container transportation.
The FMC’s involvement signals that the agency is looking closely at whether carrier practices around chassis are creating unfair obstacles for motor carriers and cargo owners. For working drivers, the outcome will be closely watched because equipment access often determines whether a container run is profitable, predictable, and safe to complete within legal hours.