New regulations from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will strengthen the safety requirements for intermodal container chassis, making intermodal equipment providers subject to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for the first time, FMCSA said.

"We want to ensure that every piece of equipment traveling on our highways is operating safely," said FMCSA Administrator John H. Hill. "These new rules will bring new safety and enforcement focus on the chassis and equipment used to haul goods on our nation’s roads every day.”

Under the new rules, intermodal equipment providers must have regular and systematic inspection, repair, and maintenance programs for intermodal chassis in effect beginning in December 2009. They must also identify equipment with a USDOT number by December 2010.