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July 12, 2005 10:45 AM, EDT

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he New Jersey Senate approved a bill intended to improve the quality of truck chassis being distributed at ports in the state, according to American Trucking Associations’ Intermodal Motor Carriers Conference.

The bill, A-1478, sponsored by John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex), had previously passed the state’s Assembly and now goes to Gov. Richard Codey (D) for his signature.

The so-called roadability measure would require owners of intermodal chassis to be responsible for the proper maintenance of the equipment, which currently is assigned to truckers, who neither own nor control the equipment.

The bill also requires that truckers be compensated for downtime if they are forced to wait longer than one hour while a chassis is repaired or replaced. The amount of compensation would be determined by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

In addition, ports in the state that load and unload oceangoing vessels would be required to regularly check chassis before they leave a port, and inspections would be required every six months to check brakes, suspension, tires and wheels, connecting devices, lights and electrical systems.

Chassis provider found to have violated the law's requirements would be fined up to $5,000 per occurrence.