Moving the goods without losing the margin · The short truck leg
Drayage
Drayage moves a container from the port to a warehouse. It is short, expensive and full of accessorials.
Key facts
| What it is | Short-haul trucking of a container, commonly from a port or rail terminal to a warehouse |
|---|---|
| Charges | Line haul, chassis, terminal fees, waiting time, appointments and per-diem equipment charges |
| Free time | The terminal and the carrier each allow a period before storage or detention charges begin |
| Appointment | Many terminals require a booking; a missed slot can trigger a fee and a delay |
| Risk | A late document or a warehouse without a dock slot can turn a short leg into a large invoice |
| Official source | The drayage provider quote and the terminal's free-time rules |
The short truck leg
Drayage looks like a simple truck move and is often the most accessorial-heavy part of the chain. The container has to be picked up within the terminal's free time, moved on a chassis, delivered to a warehouse with an available dock, unloaded and returned within the carrier's free time.
Each handoff has a clock. A missing document, a customs hold or a warehouse that cannot accept the container can start storage, detention and per-diem charges. The line haul is only one line on the invoice.
Plan the free time
Confirm the terminal free time, the carrier's equipment free time and the warehouse's receiving window before the vessel arrives. Book the appointment early and have the entry filed so the container can be released.
If the container cannot be delivered on time, ask the provider for the cost of holding it at the terminal versus moving it to a yard. The cheaper option depends on the daily charges and the expected delay. Do not let a small documentation gap become a week of per-diem.
Frequently asked questions
What is drayage?
The short truck move of a container, usually from a port or rail terminal to a warehouse.
Why is drayage so expensive?
It includes the line haul, chassis, terminal fees, appointments and waiting time, and it is exposed to free-time and congestion charges.
What is free time?
The period before storage or equipment charges begin. The terminal and the carrier set separate clocks.
Can I avoid detention?
Book the appointment early, file the entry before arrival and confirm the warehouse can receive the container within the free time.
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