Virginia International Terminals Inc. has started a new chassis pool for its port terminals.

VIT operates the Virginia Port Authority’s three cargo terminals in Hampton Roads – Norfolk International Terminals, Portsmouth Marine Terminal and Newport News Marine Terminal – and the Virginia Inland Port in Front Royal.

The idea behind the chassis pool is to free up space by removing about 5,000 chassis, nearly all of which are now stored at the terminals. The program also controls the maintenance and repair of all chassis being utilized at the terminals.

For truck drivers, the chassis pool is intended to free them from needing to switch chassis to haul for different shipping lines. VIT anticipates that the new program will result in safer equipment, less time spent on terminals for truckers and reduced terminal congestion.

Participating shipping lines provide their own chassis for the pool. When fully implemented, about 30 shipping companies are expected to participate.

Rick Knapp, VIT’s assistant general manager, said in a statement that shipping lines were not required to join, “but carriers that aren’t pool members won’t be able to store their chassis at the terminals.”

The program is expected to be fully operational by February 2005.

Other ports, such as Seattle, New Orleans and Savannah, GA, are studying the model put together in Hampton Roads.