Timeline
- Typical baseline: chassis pool availability runs at 80%+ across major Inland Empire pools
- Recent weeks: agricultural export volume out of San Bernardino and Riverside County packing houses began pulling chassis into longer dwell cycles
- As of this week: pool availability sits at roughly 68%, with drivers reporting increased "bobtailing" to secondary yards
- Through the rest of June: pressure expected to persist as export season volume continues
Recommended Actions
- Plan for an additional 1-2 hours per move for chassis sourcing through the rest of June.
- Shippers with export bookings should release containers for pickup as early in the day as possible to keep chassis cycling.
- Confirm chassis provider (pool vs. carrier-owned) before scheduling time-sensitive appointments.
- Coordinate with drayage providers on bobtail contingency routes to secondary yards.
- Track same-day chassis turnback rates at shipper facilities to anticipate further tightening.
| Pool Availability | Status | Expected Sourcing Delay |
|---|---|---|
| 80%+ | Normal | None |
| 70-79% | Tight | 0.5-1 hour per move |
| Below 70% | Shortage | 1-2 hours per move, bobtailing likely |
Why has chassis availability dropped below 70%?
Equipment tracking calibrated against independent field data shows rising agricultural export volume out of San Bernardino and Riverside County packing houses is pulling chassis into longer dwell cycles at shipper facilities. Chassis tied up at export loading sites turn back into the shared pool less frequently on a same-day basis, reducing the pool below its normal 80%+ baseline.
What are drivers doing to compensate for the shortage?
Drivers report increased instances of "bobtailing" to secondary yards to locate roadworthy chassis for export and empty return moves. This adds non-revenue mileage and time per move, which on-ground telemetry indicates is the main driver of the 1-2 hour sourcing delay drayage providers should now budget for.
How long is the shortage expected to persist?
Industry trade reporting and on-ground telemetry both point to the export season volume from San Bernardino and Riverside County packing houses as the primary driver, and that volume is expected to continue through the rest of June. Pool availability is unlikely to return to the 80%+ baseline until export bookings ease.