Drayage
Drayage is short-haul trucking of containers, typically from a port or rail yard to a nearby warehouse or vice versa. It is one of the most expensive per-mile legs in a container's journey.
Drayage moves are usually under 50 miles and priced per move rather than per mile. The per-move price covers the trip, the chassis (if rented from the carrier), and a fixed window of time at the receiving facility.
Major port congestion translates directly into drayage delays. Trucks queue at gate-in, sit during loading, queue again at gate-out, and may wait for chassis availability throughout. Each step adds time and fees.
Chassis availability is itself a constraint. In some markets, getting a chassis requires a separate booking from the container booking, and shortages can keep cargo at the port even when a trucker is available.
Related terms
- DemurrageDemurrage is the fee charged by a carrier or port terminal when cargo (typically a container) stays at a port or terminal beyond the agreed free time. It applies to the cargo, not the equipment.
- IntermodalIntermodal shipping uses a standard container moved by two or more transport modes — typically ship, rail, and truck — without unloading the cargo at the transfer points. The container is the persistent unit of movement.
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