Regulators are giving intermodal chassis providers a three-month reprieve from required annual inspections for recently expired equipment to help alleviate disruptions caused by COVID-19.

"The requested relief would allow motor carriers to operate the chassis, and intermodal equipment providers to tender the chassis to motor carriers for interchange, with an expired inspection decal for a limited time until the chassis could be returned to the respective intermodal equipment provider's facility where the annual inspection could be performed by a qualified individual," FMCSA stated.

The waiver would also "prevent a possible shortage of intermodal chassis from becoming a transportation emergency and continue the ability of motor carriers to transport goods and supplies during and following the COVID-19 public health emergency," the agency stated.

FMCSA explained that transportation disruption over the last several months has resulted in large numbers of loaded and unloaded intermodal chassis being parked at locations other than the maintenance facilities where the annual inspections would be conducted.

"During that time, many of the units' annual inspection decals have expired, or soon will expire, with no practical means of having a qualified individual conduct the mandatory annual inspection that would be necessary to return the chassis to revenue service," according to FMCSA.

IANA estimates that for each month over the next three months, 5-8% of the chassis in their members' fleets will be due for annual inspections, the agency stated. This equates to a potential of 105,000 to 170,000 chassis at risk of having the inspection decal expire over the next three months.

FMCSA cautioned that the waiver does not alter requirements for motor carriers and intermodal equipment providers to ensure that parts and accessories are in safe and proper working order at all times and that inspection, repair, and maintenance records be maintained for the commercial vehicles they control.

"Furthermore, motor carriers remain subject to the prohibition against unsafe operations…which explicitly states that a motor vehicle must not be operated in a condition as to likely cause an accident or a breakdown of the vehicle," the waiver stated.

In addition, prior to using a chassis with an expired annual inspection decal, trucking companies must ensure that drivers conduct a pre-trip/pre-dispatch inspection as required by regulation "to ensure there are no visible defects or deficiencies likely to cause a mechanical breakdown while on public roads."