11/8/05-Acting Gov. Richard Codey has signed a bill into law intended to improve the quality of chassis that trucks haul out of ports in New Jersey.
The new law forces the owner of an intermodal chassis to be responsible for the proper maintenance of the equipment. Until now, that burden has been placed on truck drivers pulling the chassis.
The new law also requires that truckers be compensated for downtime if they are forced to wait longer than one hour while the chassis is repaired or replaced. The NJDOT would determine the amount of compensation.
Ports in the state that load and unload oceangoing vessels are required to regularly check chassis – the trailers that carry freight containers – before they leave a port.
The new law, previously A1478, calls for inspections every six months that check brakes, suspension, tires and wheels, connecting devices, lights, and electrical systems.
It also requires chassis providers to maintain inspection records for 90 days, and make them available on request to the New Jersey Department of Transportation or any truck driver. Maintenance and repair records are required to be kept for two years.
To determine compliance with the inspection program, the state DOT can conduct random, on-site reviews of chassis providers. Any chassis provider found to be out of compliance could be fined up to $5,000 for each day following inspection it fails to comply.
It also allows drivers to request that chassis be inspected if they thought they were unsafe. In addition, it prohibits terminals from passing the buck for repairs on to drivers.
The rule change takes effect next fall.

7/6/05-Senators approved a bill June 30 intended to improve the quality of truck chassis being distributed at ports in the state.
A1478, which previously passed the Assembly, now moves to Gov. Richard Codey for his signature.
Sponsored by Assemblyman John Wisniewski, D-Middlesex, the bill would force the owner of an intermodal chassis to be responsible for the proper maintenance of the equipment. Currently, that burden is placed on truck drivers.
Ports in the state that load and unload oceangoing vessels would be required to regularly check chassis – the trailers that carry freight containers – before they leave a port.
The bill also requires that truckers be compensated for downtime if they are forced to wait longer than one hour while the chassis is repaired or replaced. The amount of compensation would be determined by the NJDOT.
Wisniewski’s bill calls for inspections every six months that would check brakes, suspension, tires and wheels, connecting devices, lights, and electrical systems. Any chassis provider found to have violated this order would be fined up to $5,000 per occurrence.
It also would allow drivers to request that a chassis be inspected if they thought it was unsafe as well as prohibit terminals from passing the buck for repairs on to drivers.
In addition, it would require chassis providers to maintain inspection records for 90 days, and make them available on request to the New Jersey Department of Transportation or any truck driver. Maintenance and repair records would be required to be kept for two years.
To determine compliance with the inspection program, the state DOT would conduct random, on-site reviews of chassis providers. Any chassis provider found to be out of compliance could be fined up to $5,000 for each day following inspection it fails to comply.
For bill status, call (609) 292-4840. In New Jersey, call 1-800-792-8630.

5/9/05-A bill in the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee would force the owner of an intermodal chassis to be responsible for the proper maintenance of the equipment. It previously passed the Assembly.
Under A1478, sponsored by Assemblyman John Wisniewski, D-Middlesex, ports in the state that load and unload oceangoing vessels would be required to regularly check intermodal chassis, the trailers that carry intermodal freight containers, before they leave a port.
The bill calls for inspections every six months that would check brakes, suspension, tires and wheels, connecting devices, lights, and electrical system. Any chassis provider found to have violated this order would be fined up to $5,000 per occurrence.
The measure also would allow a driver to request that a chassis be inspected if he/she thought it was unsafe.
For bill status, call (609) 292-4840. In New Jersey, call 1-800-792-8630.