Freight glossaryDrayageFreight PricingPorts
Chassis Split
Definition
A chassis split is a drayage move where the chassis and the container are at different locations, so the driver makes an extra stop to pick up or drop the chassis; truckers bill it as a chassis split fee.
What it means
Flexport defines the situation as when "the container is not located in the same place as the chassis," with the trucking company charging a fee to cover bringing the chassis to the container.[1] A split can happen on the way out (fetching a chassis before the terminal) or on the way back (dropping the empty in one place and the chassis in another).
Split fees come from each trucker's rate sheet, so the amount varies. What to ask before dispatch, and how splits fit with the other drayage accessorials, is in chassis split, pre-pull and street turn fees.
Related
Related terms
- ChassisA chassis is a wheeled trailer frame built to carry a shipping container over the road; the container is...Glossary
- DrayageDrayage is the short-distance truck move of ocean or rail freight, such as hauling a container from a marine...Glossary
- Pre-PullA pre-pull is picking up a container from the port before its delivery day and parking it at the trucker's...Glossary
- Accessorial ChargeAn accessorial charge is a fee added to the base freight rate for extra services or events, such as...Glossary
Sources
- Flexport, “Chassis Split Fee,” Industry glossary. Accessed September 2026.
General operational information, not legal, customs or regulatory advice. Rules and rates change; confirm current requirements with the agency, carrier or contract that governs your shipment.