What Is Drayage?
Drayage is the short-distance trucking of shipping containers between ports, rail yards, warehouses, and distribution centers. It's the critical first and last mile of intermodal supply chains.
Despite being a short haul — typically under 100 miles — drayage is one of the most complex and expensive per-mile segments of the entire supply chain.
Types of Drayage
| Type | Description | Typical Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Port Drayage | Container from port terminal to warehouse/DC | 10–60 miles |
| Rail Drayage | Container from rail ramp to final destination | 10–80 miles |
| Shuttle Drayage | Container between terminals within a port complex | 5–20 miles |
| Inter-Carrier | Container from one carrier's terminal to another | 10–30 miles |
| Expedited | Same-day or next-day priority container moves | Any |
| Transload | Port to transload facility (container to truck) | 10–40 miles |
Drayage Cost Breakdown (2026)
| Port Region | Per Container (20') | Per Container (40'/40'HC) |
|---|---|---|
| LA/Long Beach | $250–$500 | $350–$700 |
| NY/NJ (Port Newark) | $300–$550 | $400–$750 |
| Savannah | $200–$400 | $300–$550 |
| Houston | $200–$400 | $350–$650 |
| Seattle/Tacoma | $250–$450 | $350–$600 |
| Charleston | $200–$350 | $300–$500 |
| Norfolk | $200–$350 | $300–$500 |
What's Included in Drayage Rates
Typically included:
- Truck + driver for pickup and delivery
- Standard free time (1–2 hours) for loading/unloading
- Fuel surcharge
- One-way chassis usage (in some markets)
Typically extra:
- Chassis rental/split fees ($30–$80/day)
- Chassis flip or repositioning ($75–$150)
- Detention/wait time ($75–$125/hour after free time)
- Pre-pull / yard storage ($100–$200)
- Overweight surcharge ($100–$300)
- Hazmat surcharge ($100–$250)
- Port congestion surcharge (varies)
- Toll charges
- TWIC escort fees (if needed)
The Chassis Problem
The US drayage market uses a chassis pool model — containers don't come with their own chassis like in most other countries.
Key chassis pools:
- DCLI — largest pool, operated by Direct ChassisLink
- TRAC Intermodal — second largest
- Flexi-Van — operated by TPG
- Pool of Pools — shared cooperative in some ports
Chassis per-diem charges ($15–$40/day) start once you gate out with a chassis. Returning it quickly is critical.
How to Choose a Drayage Provider
- Port expertise — Do they operate daily at your specific terminals?
- TWIC-certified drivers — Required for unescorted port access
- Appointment management — Can they secure and manage terminal appointments?
- Chassis partnerships — Do they have pool agreements to avoid shortages?
- Tracking & visibility — Real-time container status updates
- Demurrage management — Proactive approach to avoiding free-time overruns
- Scalability — Can they handle volume spikes during peak season?
Common Drayage Problems (and Solutions)
| Problem | Impact | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| No appointment available | Demurrage accrues | Book appointments the moment containers are available |
| Chassis shortage | Can't pick up container | Use multiple pool memberships, pre-position chassis |
| Port congestion | 2–4 hour wait times | Schedule off-peak gates (night/weekend) |
| Overweight container | Rejected at scale | Verify VGM before dispatch, have transload plan ready |
| Customs hold | Can't gate out | File entries pre-arrival, work with customs broker |
| Empty return closures | Detention charges | Monitor return locations daily, use multiple depots |
Port Drayage vs Rail Drayage
| Factor | Port Drayage | Rail Drayage |
|---|---|---|
| Complexity | Higher (customs, TWIC, appointments) | Lower (no customs) |
| Wait Times | 1–4 hours typical | 30–90 minutes typical |
| Chassis | Pool chassis required | Often street turns available |
| Free Time | 4–5 days (port) | 2–3 days (ramp) |
| Demurrage Risk | High | Moderate |
Optimizing Your Drayage Costs
- Consolidate volume with one provider for better rates
- Use night gates when available (lower congestion, sometimes lower cost)
- Plan empty returns before pickup to minimize chassis per diem
- Pre-clear customs to avoid free-time erosion
- Negotiate chassis rates or use street turns where possible
- Transload near the port to avoid long-haul container drayage
The Bottom Line
Drayage is short in distance but big in cost and complexity. The right drayage partner saves you thousands per month in avoided demurrage, detention, and chassis charges.
Need reliable drayage? Get a drayage quote from Indray — we operate at every major US port and rail ramp.
