NEWS/EVENTS
News Articles
June 18, 2009
Maersk Line new chassis business model means cleaner air
Maersk Line has announced that it will implement a program to change its chassis fleet business model in the U.S., reducing the company’s carbon footprint. Maersk Line will offer its chassis for use throughout the U.S. to draymen, ocean carriers, marine terminals and railroads, reducing the number of chassis changes.
By offering this flexibility to its users, the chassis will provide greater fuel efficiencies. When implemented nationally, the carbon dioxide reductions are estimated to be over 4,000 tons annually.
The EPA’s SmartWay Transport Partnership recommends the use of common chassis to reduce the environmental impact of drayage.
“Truckers will be able to utilize the same chassis for multiple moves at different terminals, and for different Lines, driving out inefficiencies and providing the supply chain benefits that only the user controlling the chassis can deliver,” said Maersk Inc. Vice President Andy Chinigo, who is heading the initial phases of the project. “When fully implemented, it will improve port air quality and reduce port area congestion.”
“According to SmartWay, common chassis pools can help trucking companies save fuel and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by minimizing unnecessary truck movements and idling associated with switching chassis,” said Lee Kindberg, Maersk’s Environmental Director. “Drayage trucks using pooled chassis could save up to 0.8 gallons per trip, reducing nitrogen oxide and particulate matter emissions.”
“This approach is more sustainable for the environment,” Kindberg added. “The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) DrayFLEET model estimates that if all drayage nationally switched to this model, the carbon footprint of drayage would be reduced by 50,000 to 70,000 tons per year, or the equivalent of saving over five million gallons of gasoline. This will directly benefit the communities in which we work and live.”
“Because of the increased efficiency, drivers can get a customer’s container from the terminal faster, better supporting customer needs,” said Bill Williams, Maersk Line Vice President of Health, Safety & Environment. “In short, with well-managed and well-maintained chassis pools, everyone wins.”
“When a driver holds a chassis longer, there will be less wear and tear on the equipment compared to the current practices in which chassis are connected and disconnected from trucks constantly,” Williams added. “Marine Terminals will see safety benefits from less congestion; they won’t have to store large quantities of chassis on terminals and reduced congestion contributes to better traffic flow.”
The first phase of this program will begin in the third quarter in the Port of New York and New Jersey region, where Maersk will offer a fleet of over 5,000 chassis to industry users.