Import fee benchmark
Chassis split: how often it hits and what it costs
Paid when the trucker has to fetch the chassis from a different location than the container.
The short answer. In our data, 29.0% of ocean container shipments whose final trucking the forwarder arranged were charged chassis split. When it was charged, the median bill was $125 per shipment. The middle half of bills ran from $85 to $150, and 1 in 10 was over $250.
Shipments from July 2024 to June 2026. Updated October 22, 2026.
What is a chassis split fee?
A chassis split happens when the chassis is not where the container is. The driver has to go to a chassis pool or depot first, then to the terminal or rail ramp, which adds a trip and time. The trucker bills that extra move as a chassis split. Splits are especially common at inland rail ramps, where chassis supply and container pickup are often in different places.Chassis split by port
How often shipments at each published port were charged chassis split. Ports with too few importers are left out, and a dash means too few bills to publish a cost.
| Port or rail hub | How often | Median bill | Shipments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis / St. Paul | 62.7% | $125 | 526 |
| Omaha | 46.8% | — | 550 |
| Chicago | 39.0% | $120 | 620 |
| Long Beach | 29.7% | — | 122 |
| Los Angeles | 26.4% | — | 354 |
| Savannah | 5.6% | — | 115 |
| Miami | 4.5% | — | 597 |
| Houston | 3.6% | — | 156 |
| New York / New Jersey | 2.8% | — | 291 |
| Port Everglades | under 9.1% | — | 55 |
| Tampa | under 6.4% | — | 78 |
| All ports in the data | 29.0% | $125 | 5,536 |
How to avoid chassis split
- Ask your trucker how often splits happen at your port or ramp, and price them into the quote.
- Where you can choose, terminals and ramps with chassis on site avoid the extra move.
Questions
What is a chassis split fee?
Paid when the trucker has to fetch the chassis from a different location than the container. A chassis split happens when the chassis is not where the container is. The driver has to go to a chassis pool or depot first, then to the terminal or rail ramp, which adds a trip and time. The trucker bills that extra move as a chassis split. Splits are especially common at inland rail ramps, where chassis supply and container pickup are often in different places.
How often do importers pay chassis split?
In our data, 29.0% of ocean container shipments whose final trucking the forwarder arranged were charged chassis split at least once (95% range 27.8% to 30.2%).
How much does chassis split cost?
When it was charged, the median chassis split bill was $125 per shipment. Half of all bills fell between $85 and $150, and 1 in 10 was over $250.
Free quote
Want chassis split spelled out before you ship?
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