What to Do If You Find a Chassis Defect During Interchange at a Port or Rail Terminal
When receiving a chassis at a port or rail terminal, a driver who finds a damaged tire, an air hose leak, or a container lock that will not engage needs to report the problem to the person responsible for handling it before leaving the terminal and confirm that the equipment has been repaired or replaced. Leaving with a defect and dealing with it later increases the risk of an en-route stop, the need for roadside assistance, and cargo delays.
A container chassis is a trailer frame that carries a shipping container and is pulled by a truck tractor. This article concerns chassis interchanged by an intermodal equipment provider (IEP) to a motor carrier for the intermodal transportation of containers in interstate commerce on public highways. Even a trip entirely within California may be one leg of an interstate or international transportation movement. Drivers and providers each have requirements to meet when equipment is received, reported for repair, and returned. Confirm the applicable repair reporting channel and arrangements for work within the facility with the current terminal and equipment provider.
Check the Chassis Number Before the Pre-Trip Inspection
Before accepting the equipment, verify the number on the chassis itself, the container number, and the equipment provider. Reporting only the container number may prevent repair personnel from locating the correct chassis. If the chassis is subsequently replaced, notify dispatch and update the chassis number in the interchange record.
49 CFR §392.7(b) requires drivers to inspect specified components and confirm that they are in good working order before taking intermodal equipment onto a highway. The inspection covers tires, wheels, rims, and lug nuts, as well as lights, marker lamps, and reflective markings. Air hoses, fittings, and brake connections must also be checked. Drivers must visually inspect visible service-brake components as thoroughly as possible without going under the vehicle.
Coupling and securement components must not be overlooked. These include the kingpin and upper coupling device, rails or support frames, tie-down bolsters, locking pins, clevises, clamps or hooks, and sliders or sliding-frame locking mechanisms. Look for specific problems such as visibly damaged tires, lights that do not work, air hose leaks, missing locking pins, or securement devices that will not lock properly. The Port of Virginia chassis pre-trip inspection checklist can help identify the parts to check. Locking pins and twistlocks operate differently depending on the equipment design, so follow the instructions for that particular type of equipment. If you are unsure, ask repair personnel to inspect it. Do not leave the terminal solely on the strength of an old inspection sticker or the previous driver saying the equipment is still usable.
Report Defects to the Equipment Provider or Its Designated Agent
When you find a problem, report it to the equipment provider or its designated agent and notify dispatch. The division of responsibilities among the terminal repair desk, the reporting system, and outside repair vendors may vary. Confirm which reporting channel is currently in use and who has received your report. Posting a photo in a company group chat may not notify the equipment provider.
The TRAC service request guide lists the chassis number, container number, and equipment location separately and can serve as a reference for organizing a repair request. Confirm the reporting channels and required fields used by other providers separately. Clearly state the chassis number, terminal and exact location, when the problem was found, and which part has what problem. For a tire problem, identify the tire position. For an air hose problem, describe what you can see or hear rather than guessing the cause for the technician. Where site rules permit and it is safe to do so, take and retain photos of the equipment number and affected parts, and keep the repair request number, acknowledgment, or response from the recipient.
Under 49 CFR §390.40T(h)–(i), equipment providers must establish inspection procedures and provide sufficient inspection space at facilities where they offer chassis for interchange. When a driver finds damage or a defect during a pre-trip inspection and notifies the provider, the provider must repair or replace the equipment before the driver leaves the facility. Drivers can ask the provider to explain how the issue will be handled and keep dispatch informed about the wait so that later appointments can be adjusted.
Inspect Again After Repairs or a Chassis Replacement
If the equipment needs to be moved to a repair area, have on-site personnel and the repair provider arrange a safe method of moving it based on the defect. When brakes, wheels, or securement devices have a problem, do not assume that the equipment can be driven simply because it is only a short distance. 49 CFR §396.7 prohibits operating a vehicle in a condition that is likely to cause an accident or a breakdown. The limited exception allowing movement after a defect is discovered during a highway trip is not a basis for leaving a terminal with defective equipment.
After repairs, check the result against the problems you reported and complete the pre-trip inspection. If you receive a replacement chassis, inspect the replacement equipment and verify its chassis number. If the container needs to be transferred, arrange the work under the procedures confirmed by the current terminal and equipment provider. If you still have safety concerns, ask the repair provider to address them. Do not go onto the road merely because the repair ticket has been closed.
Keeping records of repairs, replacements, and waiting time can also help the motor carrier address disputes over charges or delays. Check who is responsible for repair costs and whether prior authorization is required under the equipment provider's arrangements and the applicable contract. For example, the DCLI Marine Chassis Road Service Policy has its own authorization and billing provisions, which apply to services covered by that policy. A provider's responsibility to arrange repairs does not, by itself, mean that the provider will pay every cost.
Formally Report Known Defects When Returning the Chassis
When returning the chassis, the driver or motor carrier must also report all known damage, defects, or deficiencies to the equipment provider or its designated agent. The report must fully document problems that affect the safe operation of the equipment or could cause a mechanical breakdown during highway transportation.
Under 49 CFR §396.11(b), this driver vehicle inspection report (DVIR) must include, at a minimum, the name and U.S. Department of Transportation number (USDOT number) of the motor carrier operating the equipment when the problem was discovered or brought to the driver's attention, the equipment provider's USDOT number, and the chassis's unique identification number. It must also record the date and time of submission and the specific defects, and be signed by the driver who prepares the report.
Under 49 CFR §396.12, before the equipment is operated again, the provider or its agent must repair defects listed in the return report that are likely to affect safety and certify on the report originally submitted by the driver that the defects have been repaired or that repair is unnecessary. If the driver has neither found nor been told of any defects, the federal intermodal equipment rules do not require a written no-defect report. Continue to follow the terminal's normal equipment interchange procedures.
After returning the equipment, retain a record of successful report submission. If the system will not accept the report, promptly contact the designated recipient to confirm what other reporting method is available and keep the reply, so that the defect information can reach the people responsible for repairs.
Disclaimer
This article is based on U.S. federal intermodal equipment regulations and related operating materials checked as of October 27, 2026. It is provided for general information and does not constitute legal advice for an individual case, a vehicle inspection finding, or repair instructions. Regulations, repair reporting channels, and contractual arrangements may change, and specific responsibilities depend on the equipment, transportation, and interchange circumstances. If you have questions about a particular defect or how to move equipment safely, ask the appropriate professionals to inspect and address the situation on site. Drivers must still complete the required inspections and confirm that the relevant components are in good working order before going onto the road. Consult the equipment provider, the motor carrier's compliance personnel, or a lawyer about disputes over liability or charges. By providing this article, the Association does not assume responsibility for the inspection or repair of particular equipment or for contractual performance, and does not guarantee release of the equipment or any particular outcome regarding charges.
DCLI. “Marine Chassis Road Service Policy.” DCLI, effective 6 Feb. 2025. Marine Chassis Road Service Policy. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.
The Port of Virginia. “Chassis Pre-Trip Inspection.” The Port of Virginia. Chassis Pre-Trip Inspection. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.
TRAC Intermodal. “REACH Service Request Form Reference Guide.” TRAC Intermodal. REACH Service Request Form Reference Guide. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.
United States, Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. “49 CFR §390.5T: Definitions.” eCFR, current text through 23 Oct. 2026. 49 CFR §390.5T. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.
United States, Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. “49 CFR §390.40T: Intermodal equipment providers.” eCFR, current text through 23 Oct. 2026. 49 CFR §390.40T. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.
United States, Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. “49 CFR §392.7: Equipment, inspection and use.” eCFR, current text through 23 Oct. 2026. 49 CFR §392.7. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.
United States, Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. “49 CFR §396.7: Unsafe operations forbidden.” eCFR, current text through 23 Oct. 2026. 49 CFR §396.7. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.
United States, Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. “49 CFR §396.11: Driver vehicle inspection report(s).” eCFR, current text through 23 Oct. 2026. 49 CFR §396.11. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.
United States, Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. “49 CFR §396.12: Procedures for intermodal equipment providers to accept reports required by §390.42(b) of this chapter.” eCFR, current text through 23 Oct. 2026. 49 CFR §396.12. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.