Dorsey Intermodal Ramps up Production with 5,000-Chassis Order

Dorsey Intermodal has launched a massive capacity increase following an agreement to supply more than 5,000 new chassis for the South Carolina Ports Authority, currently on schedule for delivery in early 2022.

The South Carolina Ports Authority previously announced it would leave a regional chassis pool covering the Southeast in May 2022 to operate a proprietary pool. However, it had to delay the launch by six months because manufacturers and lessors manufacturers and lessors could not supply the volume of chassis in time, according to the Journal of Commerce.

South Carolina Ports is launching its own chassis pool in early 2023 to enhance the reliability, safety, quality and availability of equipment for the benefit of motor carriers, importers, exporters and ocean carrier customers, according to a news release.

“This will ensure efficient, fluid operations as we continue to handle record-breaking cargo volumes,” SC Ports COO Barbara Melvin said.

Backed by the support of the SC Ports team, Dorsey Intermodal immediately launched a massive capacity increase.

“Until recently, we were not able to sell to our potential due to market conditions,” said JP Pierson, president of Dorsey Intermodal, “but I am extremely proud of the rapid acceleration undertaken by our Alabama factory and our private label partner, THACO Special Vehicles, to get these chassis constructed and shipped to Charleston.”

According to Pierson, substantial orders like the SC Ports project help position Dorsey Intermodal to forecast with vendors and mitigate potential supply chain issues.

An essential factor in Dorsey Intermodal’s increased capacity stems from an agreement with Vietnam-based THACO Special Vehicle, finalized in early 2020. THACO manufactures cars for BMW and commercial vehicles for Kia, including buses, dump trucks, and trailers. Its facilities are fully automated, with robotic welding, electrostatic painting and other efficiencies necessary for high volume production. They also provide rigorous testing and quality controls to ensure each chassis meets the high performance standards required in the U.S., according to the company.