The short-distance transport of shipping containers from a port or rail yard to a nearby warehouse or distribution center.
Drayage refers to the short-haul transportation of shipping containers — typically from an ocean port or intermodal rail terminal to a nearby warehouse, 3PL, or distribution center. It's the "first mile" of domestic freight movement for imported goods, and it's one of the largest cost and time variables for import-heavy brands.
Drayage is performed by specialized trucking companies called dray carriers, using chassis-mounted containers. The cost is influenced by distance from port to destination, chassis availability, port congestion, fuel surcharges, and detention/demurrage fees (charged when containers sit at the port too long before pickup).
For brands importing from Asia (China, Vietnam, Bangladesh), drayage from the Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach or the Port of New York/New Jersey represents a significant logistics cost. 3PLs located near major ports offer a major drayage cost advantage — reducing this from $1,000-$3,000 per container to $200-$600 for truly port-adjacent facilities.
Typical drayage ranges from $200-$600 for truly port-adjacent moves (within 10-15 miles) to $800-$3,000+ for longer pulls into the Inland Empire or further inland. Port congestion periods (Q3-Q4 peak) can add $200-$500 per container in chassis fees alone.
Demurrage is a fee charged by the ocean carrier when a container sits at the port terminal too long before pickup (typically after 3-5 free days). Detention is a fee charged by the ocean carrier when the chassis/container is held at a location (like your 3PL) beyond the free period. Both can run $100-$300/day and are avoidable with good coordination.
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