Direct ChassisLink

DCLI was originally formed in 1988 as Maersk Equipment Service Company, and operated as a subsidiary of Maersk until early 2012. Since 2012, DCLI has completed ten acquisitions of marine chassis fleets from leading steamship lines and also entered the domestic chassis provisioning market through its acquisition of approximately 73,000 domestic chassis from TRAC Intermodal in 2017. In 2014, DCLI also acquired an asset management platform, Blume Global, whose software solutions and technology platform enable trading partners in the global supply chain ecosystem to combine real-time visibility across the supply chain together with logistics execution and fulfillment and financial settlement.

DCLI’s footprint is composed of approximately 450 intermodal hubs and depots across the US and has operations in key marine terminals, rail terminals and depots. DCLI’s experienced field operations personnel are strategically located in key locations and help maintain DCLI’s industry-leading fleet and a high level of customer service. In total, DCLI serves approximately 4,000 customers, primarily composed of container shipping companies, railroads, motor carriers, beneficial cargo owners and other logistics companies who use DCLI's chassis under long-term contracts, across 450 active rental locations, including the three largest shipping lines and six of the Class I railroads.

Chassis are an essential part of the transportation value chain and are used to carry containers to and from ships in port to local destinations or to intermodal hubs for long haul transport by rail or truck as well as last mile distribution. Blume’s platform provides these customers with real-time visibility of inventory and shipments across nearly 100 countries, which offers new levels of information and insight to drive efficiencies and help meet evolving customer demands.

Market trends and drivers

The outlook for the intermodal industry which DCLI participates in is positive. Demand for the assets and services DCLI provides is tied to US trade flows and domestic production, and driven by US consumer demand and US imports and exports.

DCLI is supported by several positive macroeconomic tailwinds including increasing international trade and globalization and increasing container traffic. International trade is an increasing part of the US economy and expected to continue to grow. Container trade volumes are similarly expected to grow, driven by healthy US consumer demand, continued emphasis on containerization and a shift towards transportation by rail.

To Direct ChassisLink

To Blume Global

Investment potential

DCLI is a differentiated asset in an industry supported by positive underlying macroeconomic trends. The business provides an essential asset and service to the intermodal industry with limited substitution risk.