The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) released final regulations for the Requirements for Intermodal Equipment Providers and Motor Carriers and Drivers Operating Intermodal Equipment. Enactment of these chassis "Roadability" mandates has been the top priority for ATA's Intermodal Motor Carriers Conference (IMCC), whose members played a critical role in negotiating and drafting industry consensus legislation that led to the development of these long overdue equipment safety requirements.

As a result of this rulemaking, ocean carriers, railroads, chassis pool operators and other Intermodal Equipment Providers (IEPs) will for the first time be subject to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). Specifically, as mandated by section 4118 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), the regulations will require IEPs to: 

• Establish a systematic inspection, repair, and maintenance program to ensure the safe operating condition of each intermodal container chassis;

• Maintain documentation of the program;

• Display the USDOT Number, or other unique identifier, on each intermodal container chassis offered for transportation in interstate commerce;

• Provide a means to effectively respond to driver and motor carrier reports about intermodal container chassis mechanical defects and deficiencies; and,

• Ensure that intermodal chassis are roadable before the equipment is made available to the driver for transport.

The regulations will go into effect six months from today. IEPs will have one year to put all of the mandated systems into place and two years to mark all of the equipment with DOT identification numbers or other acceptable methods permitted under the final rules.