Drayage
Port-to-warehouse trucking cost, chassis availability, and driver capacity.
Overview
Drayage — the short-haul trucking of containers between marine terminals and nearby warehouses, rail yards, or distribution centers — is the link that connects ocean freight to domestic logistics, and it's often where the tightest capacity pinch hits first. In Southern California (LA/Long Beach to Inland Empire), a standard 40ft dry move currently runs $425-$475 to the Ontario corridor, up 4-6% following the June 1 quarterly fuel surcharge reset. But the rate per move tells less than half the story: chassis splits (where the chassis must be picked up separately from the container), terminal wait time billing (after 2 free hours), and per-diem chassis charges are the accessorials that turn a $450 invoice into a $900 one. For cross-border sellers and importers, drayage is the shortest leg in miles but one of the most operationally dense — get it wrong and your container sits at the terminal stacking up detention while your FBA or WFS inbound window closes.
Timeline
| Milestone | Window | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Container availability notice | Day of discharge or day after | Free time clock starts from availability, not vessel arrival — if discharge is delayed by terminal congestion, the calendar is already burning before you can dispatch a truck |
| Dispatch & truck assignment | Same day or next day | Truck capacity tightens when import volume surges stack up at the terminal — during tariff frontloading windows, same-day dispatch can become next-day or 2-day dispatch |
| Terminal turn time | 55 min (Long Beach avg) to 2+ hours | Truck turn time at the terminal directly affects per-move cost — every additional hour at the terminal reduces the number of daily turns a driver can complete |
| Chassis pickup (if split) | Separate trip before container pickup | A chassis split means the truck picks up the chassis from a different location than the container terminal — adds 1-3 hours and a separate trip charge |
| Delivery & empty return | Within free-time window | The empty container must be returned to the designated depot before free time expires or per-diem detention starts accruing |
Latest News
- Jun 24, 2026Capacity
ITS Logistics June Index: Drayage and Intermodal Brace for July Surge
ITS Logistics June index shows drayage and intermodal capacity tightening ahead of a projected July import surge as tariff frontloading intensifies.
- Jun 13, 2026Regulation
FMCSA Finalizes New CDL Rule to Address Drayage Driver Shortage and Chassis Congestion
FMCSA finalizes rule aimed at easing drayage driver shortage and chassis congestion at major US ports — implications for driver availability and capacity going forward.
- Jun 4, 2026Rates
SoCal Drayage Rates Tick Up 4-6% as Fuel Surcharges Reset
Per-move drayage rates out of LAX/LGB to Inland Empire destinations have risen 4-6% following the June 1 quarterly fuel surcharge index reset — Ontario corridor now $425-$475 per move.
Featured Guides
Chassis splits
When the chassis pool and container terminal are at different locations, the truck must make a separate trip to pick up the chassis — this adds 1-3 hours, a chassis split fee ($50-150), and is the single most common drayage accessorial. Check chassis availability at the terminal before dispatching.
Fuel surcharge (FSC)
Reset quarterly based on DOE diesel price index — the June 1, 2026 reset pushed rates up 4-6%. FSC is added as a percentage of the base move rate and varies by provider; always confirm the current FSC rate rather than using last quarter's.
Driver availability
Southern California drayage driver availability has tightened as import volumes concentrate around tariff frontloading windows. Asset-based carriers with their own drivers generally maintain more consistent availability than broker-only providers during peak demand.
Terminal wait time / congestion billing
Most drayage providers include 2 free hours at the terminal; beyond that, wait time is billed at $75-150/hour. During congestion spikes, wait times can push past 3 hours, adding $150-300+ to a single move.
Prep Checklist
- ✓Check chassis availability at your terminal before dispatching — a chassis split is the most common and avoidable drayage accessorial, adding both cost and delay
- ✓Confirm the current quarter's fuel surcharge (FSC) rate with your provider before building a per-move budget — don't use last quarter's rate
- ✓During tariff frontloading windows, allow for next-day or 2-day dispatch rather than assuming same-day dispatch will be available at the standard rate
- ✓Track terminal truck turn time data via ANKPOST to identify congestion periods and schedule container pickups outside peak congestion windows where possible
- ✓Pre-clear customs before vessel arrival where your forwarder/broker supports it — a container that clears customs before discharge can be picked up on day one, avoiding the rush once the terminal starts clearing the backlog
- ✓Budget for terminal wait time beyond the included 2 hours during known peak periods — during congestion spikes, 3+ hour turns can add $150-300+ to a single move
Related Wiki
Drayage Rates Guide: What Drives the Cost of Port-to-Door Trucking
What components make up drayage pricing, fair-price benchmarks for major West Coast lanes, and strategies to control cost.
The Drayage Driver Shortage: Causes and Effects on Port Operations
Why drayage carriers face driver availability constraints, the cost impact on container pickup times, and how shippers can adapt.
Drayage Chassis Split Fees: How Chassis Costs Get Billed
How chassis split fees in drayage work when the chassis provider differs from the ocean carrier, and the typical cost tiers involved.
Drayage Per Diem Fees Explained: Equipment Rental Charges
How per diem charges on drayage containers and chassis differ from demurrage and detention, and the rate tiers shippers should expect when equipment is held past the free period.
Port Drayage Permits: Understanding CTPAT and TWIC Requirements
What CTPAT certification and TWIC cards are, processing timelines, and how they affect drayage driver access to West Coast terminals.
Terminal Appointment Systems: How Container Pickup Scheduling Works
How marine terminal appointment systems function at West Coast ports, why slots get scarce, and how no-show tracking affects access.
Related Tools
FAQ
Three factors, in order of impact: (1) fuel surcharge resets (quarterly, can swing rates 4-6% in one reset), (2) terminal congestion and wait time (extends per-move time and adds wait-time billing), and (3) chassis splits (separate pickup trip, adds $50-150 plus 1-3 hours). Driver availability is the multiplier — when drivers are tight, all three factors hit harder.