I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 6081 
To authorize the Secretary of Transportation to issue a request for proposals 
for a private sector entity to develop an operating model for an interoper-
able gray chassis pool at the rail ramps around Memphis, Tennessee. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 26, 2021 
Mr. KUSTOFF (for himself, Mr. CRAWFORD, and Mr. COHEN) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To authorize the Secretary of Transportation to issue a 
request for proposals for a private sector entity to de-
velop an operating model for an interoperable gray chas-
sis pool at the rail ramps around Memphis, Tennessee. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Improving Chassis Ca-
pacity for Memphis’ Supply Chain Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. DEVELOPMENT OF OPERATING MODEL FOR INTER-
OPERABLE GRAY CHASSIS POOL AT THE RAIL 
RAMPS AROUND MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 
means the Federal Maritime Commission. 
(2) INTEROPERABLE
GRAY
CHASSIS
POOL.— 
The term ‘‘interoperable gray chassis pool’’ means a 
single enterprise for voluntary chassis provisioning 
that allows for the use of any container chassis for 
marine shipping containers not less than 20 feet and 
not more than 45 feet in length at the rail ramps 
around Memphis, Tennessee, by shippers or motor 
carriers. 
(b) DEVELOPMENT OF PLAN.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of 
appropriations, not later than 6 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Transportation, in coordination with the Commis-
sion, shall develop a plan to issue a request for pro-
posals to develop an operating model for an inter-
operable gray chassis pool at the rail ramps around 
Memphis, Tennessee. 
(2) PLAN
DETAILS.—In developing the plan 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Transpor-
tation, in coordination with the Commission, shall 
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identify a suitable location or locations for the inter-
operable gray chassis pool and consult with relevant 
stakeholders, including the International Port of 
Memphis, ocean carriers, railroad carriers, motor 
carriers, chassis providers, shippers, and the Surface 
Transportation Board. 
(3) CONTENT OF PLAN AND AVAILABILITY.— 
The plan under paragraph (1) shall— 
(A) include— 
(i) objectives and duties of a private 
sector entity to establish the interoperable 
gray chassis pool; 
(ii) expectations for voluntary partici-
pation based on consultations; and 
(iii) the appropriate approach for 
seeking and receiving feedback from Mem-
phis stakeholders regarding the interoper-
able gray chassis pool; and 
(B) be publicly available on a website not 
later than 7 days after the plan is completed. 
(c) REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of 
appropriations, not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation, in coordination with the Commission, shall 
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issue a request for proposals for a private sector en-
tity to develop an operating model for an interoper-
able gray chassis pool consistent with the plan re-
quired under subsection (b). 
(2) CONTENT OF PROPOSAL.—A proposal sub-
mitted pursuant to a request under paragraph (1) 
shall include— 
(A) a fee structure that would sustain the 
interoperable gray chassis pool without a sub-
sidy; 
(B) specification of performance goals, in-
cluding rates of chassis in maintenance and av-
erage turn times, and a plan to achieve the per-
formance goals; 
(C) expectations for communication and 
coordination among carriers and local busi-
nesses, including any facilitation by the private 
sector entity; 
(D) expectations for total chassis involved, 
whether from voluntary participation of existing 
providers or addition of chassis by the private 
sector entity; 
(E) identification of real property nec-
essary to implement the interoperable gray 
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chassis pool, whether from voluntary partici-
pants or to be acquired; and 
(F) a commitment from the private sector 
entity to implement the interoperable gray chas-
sis pool at the rail ramps around Memphis, 
Tennessee, based on the operating model devel-
oped for the proposal within a specified time-
frame. 
(d) AWARDING OF CONTRACT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of 
appropriations, except as provided in paragraph (2), 
from the proposals submitted under subsection (c), 
the Secretary of Transportation, with approval from 
the Commission, shall award a contract to a private 
sector entity to develop and implement an operating 
model for an interoperable gray chassis pool at the 
rail ramps around Memphis, Tennessee. 
(2) NO SATISFACTORY PROPOSAL.—If no satis-
factory proposal is submitted under subsection (c), 
the Secretary of Transportation, in coordination 
with the Commission, shall submit, not later than 6 
months after the date on which all proposals are 
submitted, a report to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
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the House of Representatives with potential alter-
native options to improve chassis provisioning and 
supply chain efficiency at the rail ramps around 
Memphis, Tennessee. 
(e) EVALUATION.—The Secretary of Transportation, 
in coordination with the Commission, shall— 
(1) evaluate the effectiveness of an interoper-
able gray chassis pool developed under this section 
not later than 1 year after implementation; and 
(2) issue a report to the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
and the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives regarding 
the evaluation, including best practices and lessons 
learned, not later than 2 years after implementation. 
(f) LIMITATIONS.— 
(1) VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION.—Participation 
in the interoperable gray chassis pool developed 
under this section shall be voluntary. 
(2) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this 
section shall be construed to authorize the Depart-
ment of Transportation or the Commission to pur-
chase or operate tangible property related to the de-
velopment of the interoperable gray chassis pool 
under this section. 
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