DCLI looks back on a decade of serving the intermodal industry.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Direct ChassisLink, Inc. (“DCLI”) is celebrating 10 years of success providing high-quality intermodal equipment and transportation expertise to the industry. First branded as Direct ChassisLink in March 2009, DCLI has grown to be the largest provider of marine and domestic container chassis and a leading provider of asset management services to the U.S. intermodal industry. “I am so proud to lead this company,” said Bill Shea, CEO of DCLI. “DCLI has always tried to lead by example and our vision is to integrate our asset provisioning model with Blume Global’s Digital Supply Chain Platform to improve operating efficiencies and visibility of shipments for our customers.”

Maersk’s chassis business, called Maersk Equipment Service Company, was rebranded as Direct ChassisLink in early 2009. At that time, the company had three ocean carriers as its primary customers and around 64,000 chassis in its fleet. The following year, DCLI introduced the first daily-rental chassis model in New Jersey, which expanded to other national markets over the next several years. By 2013, DCLI had grown its chassis fleet to around 90,000 units by acquiring the fleets of several of its ocean carrier customers. In 2014, the firm expanded its business acquiring intermodal technology company REZ-1, known today as Blume Global, and adding specialty chassis to its roster of equipment types. Then, in 2015, DCLI was the driving force behind the creation of the interoperable West Coast grey chassis pool known as the Pool of Pools. As it has grown, DCLI has placed a major focus on improving fleet quality, injecting brand new equipment into chassis pools in every region and updating chassis with enhanced specifications such as radial tires and LED lights. In 2018, DCLI made its most recent major enhancement by acquiring over 80,000 domestic chassis pushing its fleet size to more than 230,000 chassis – quadrupling the fleet since the company’s start.

“So much has changed over the last decade,” said Shea, “and yet our Core Values have persisted: a focus on our customers, a commitment to safety, a dedication to our industry and the communities in which we operate, integrity, respect, and a collaborative, entrepreneurial spirit. These values are at the center of the company’s success.”

DCLI will be celebrating this milestone anniversary throughout the year. A special 10th anniversary seal will debut at this week’s TPM event in Long Beach. Along with employee events during the year, special celebrations are planned for this year’s National Truck Driver Appreciation Week and the IANA Intermodal EXPO in the fall.