Cost structure / standard tiers
Chassis costs are billed on a per-diem and per-use basis, separate from container demurrage/detention.
| Charge | Typical Rate | Billed By |
|---|---|---|
| Chassis daily use fee | $20-$30/day | Chassis pool provider (e.g., TRAC, DCLI) |
| Chassis detention (use beyond free time) | $75-$150/day | Chassis pool provider |
| Split move additional stop fee (drayage) | $50-$150 per move | Drayage carrier |
| Chassis damage/repair assessment | Varies, $100-$1,000+ per incident | Chassis pool provider |
On lanes where chassis splits are common (certain inland rail-served markets), the additional stop fee alone can represent a meaningful percentage of the total drayage rate for short-haul moves.
Risk mitigation / operational guidance
When booking drayage, confirm with the trucking provider whether the move is "matched" (container and chassis co-located) or "split" before the move is dispatched — split moves should be priced and scheduled with the additional stop and time built in, not discovered after the fact. Track chassis free time separately from container free time in dispatch logs, since chassis detention from a pool provider is a distinct invoice stream that's easy to overlook when reconciling drayage costs. For recurring lanes with frequent splits, evaluate whether a different drayage provider with better access to matched chassis pools at the relevant terminal could reduce per-move costs. Inspect chassis condition at pickup and document any pre-existing damage, since damage assessments from pool providers are billed to whichever party last had custody and can be disputed more effectively with timestamped condition photos.