COMPLIANCE
UIIA (Uniform Intermodal Interchange Agreement)
The standard contract that allows motor carriers to access shared chassis equipment at US container terminals and rail ramps.
UIIA stands for Uniform Intermodal Interchange and Facilities Access Agreement. It is the standard contract administered by the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) that governs how motor carriers access shared chassis equipment at US container terminals, intermodal rail ramps, and intermodal facilities. Without UIIA enrollment, a carrier cannot legally use the chassis pools operated at most major US ports and intermodal terminals.
The UIIA replaces hundreds of individual bilateral agreements that carriers previously had to maintain with each equipment provider. Today, UIIA enrollment gives a carrier access to chassis from DCLI, TRAC Intermodal, Flexi-Van, and other Intermodal Equipment Providers (IEPs) at locations across the country under a single agreement. The carrier signs the UIIA with IANA, then adds individual IEP addenda for the specific equipment providers at the terminals where they operate.
For freight forwarders and shippers, UIIA membership is the most basic vetting criterion for drayage carriers. A carrier that is not UIIA-enrolled cannot efficiently pick up containers at major US terminals — they would need company-owned chassis or separate equipment arrangements, which are slower and less reliable. At high-volume ports like Los Angeles, New York, and Savannah, UIIA membership is effectively a prerequisite for operating.
To verify a carrier's UIIA status, ask for their UIIA enrollment documentation from IANA, or check with the intermodal equipment providers at your specific port. DrayLocator cross-references carrier FMCSA operating authority — active FMCSA authority is a prerequisite for UIIA enrollment.