WASHINGTON — After a disastrous start, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration says it will delay for six month certain requirements of the new intermodal chassis safety rules that took effect in mid December.

The DOT agency announced that container providers now have until June 30 — up from Dec. 17 — to create a database to track and report the condition of each chassis.

Whoever provides the intermodal chassis’ — in most cases it’s a rail or marine company — is supposed to have systematic way of doing safety checks on equipment and components like brakes and tires and reporting the results of those checks before the chassis are meted out to carriers.

The so-called chassis "roadability" regulations didn’t go smoothly when they took effect last month.

Immediately, delays, miscommunication and long lines of trucks waiting at terminals were reported all over the U.S.

Drayage carriers soon realized that the information systems needed to send data between truckers and equipment providers weren’t compatible.

In July, the last phase of the rule is to take effect, requiring carriers to include FMCSA-approved markings on each chassis.