You may have heard of the current chassis scarcity if you work in transportation or logistics. So, what is causing this chassis shortage, and what’s the way to go about it? Everything you need to know about the present chassis scarcity, from its origins to its effects to potential remedies, is discussed in this article.
Problems That Lead to a Lack of Chassis
First, realize that a chassis is integral to the multi-modal transportation network. Transporting containers from one method of transportation to another, such as from a ship to a truck or train, requires the employment of a chassis, which is a trailer frame equipped with wheels and a braking mechanism. Moving containers from the port to locations farther inland requires chassis, which is not always available.
Possible Effects of Increasing Imports on the Chassis Shortage
The question here is why is there a chassis shortage? The present chassis deficit is partially attributable to the dramatic increase in imports from Asia, notably China. Disruptions to global supply systems brought on by the COVID-19 epidemic have led to an accumulation of items awaiting shipment.
Thus, there has been a rise in demand for chassis to carry these cargoes from the ports to their ultimate destinations.
Right to Use the Chassis
The concentration of chassis ownership also plays a role in the scarcity. The quantity of available chassis has decreased in recent years as leasing businesses have purchased more. Also, certain ports and railways have instituted chassis pool programs, wherein they own and manage a pool of chassis for usage by multiple trucking firms.
These initiatives may improve productivity and save expenses but have also reduced chassis supply.
Results of the Lack of Chassis
There have been several effects on the logistics and shipping sectors due to the chassis scarcity. The biggest effect is the slowed transport of products from the ports to interior locations. The chassis shortage means that trucking firms may have to wait days, if not weeks, to get one for transporting containers.
Not only does this cause transportation costs to rise, but it also reduces the overall effectiveness of the supply chain.
Possibilities of Other Transport Methods to Solve the Chassis Shortage
As a result of the chassis scarcity, there has been a rise in the use of less conventional transport options, including trains and barges. These alternatives to trucking may save money in certain situations, but they have drawbacks. It may not be practical to ship perishable commodities or reach remote areas by rail and barge because of the time and effort involved.
Alternatives to Chassis Production
Many options have been offered to deal with the present chassis scarcity. Constructing new chassis or importing them from other nations is one option for meeting the need. Nevertheless, this answer might be time-consuming and difficult to implement in the near future.
Bettering the Productivity of Used Chassis:
Reducing the wasteful operation of the already-existing chassis is another option. More chassis can be made accessible via chassis pool programs, and they can be better monitored and managed with the help of modern technologies. Trucking businesses may boost efficiency by decreasing the number of kilometers driven without transporting anything.
Technology’s Role in Solving the Chassis Shortage:
Lastly, some experts have proposed rethinking the intermodal transportation system as a long-term solution to chassis scarcity. Containers, for instance, might be transported from ports to interior locations using alternative technology like drones or driverless vehicles.
While these innovations are still in the early stages of research and development, they hold great promise for reshaping the transportation sector and mitigating some of the effects of the present chassis scarcity.
Conclusion
There are a number of causes contributing to the present chassis scarcity, including an increase in imports from Asia and a concentration of chassis ownership. Delays in the transit of products and an increase in demand for alternate forms of transportation are only two of the ways in which scarcity has impacted the transportation and logistics business.
Many options have been offered to deal with the scarcity, such as expanding the number of chassis available, maximizing the efficiency of the chassis already in use, and reevaluating the present intermodal transportation system. Even though the chassis shortage has no silver bullet, the industry has to do something to fix it and boost supply chain efficiency.
