Chassis

Shipping Terms Glossary

C

Chassis

A chassis is a specialized trailer or undercarriage designed for transporting ocean containers over the road. It is an essential component for the land transportation segment of containerized cargo handling. When cargo needs to travel by truck, whether from an ocean port to a warehouse or another destination, it is required to mount and move the container. For overweight Full Container Load (FCL) shipments, a tri-axle chassis is often necessary to handle the increased load. Specifically, it is typically required for a 20-foot container weighing above 36,000 lbs, or a 40-foot container exceeding 44,000 lbs. These specialized chassis help distribute the weight more evenly, reducing the risk of road damage and ensuring compliance with transportation regulations.