In the lexicon of supply chain logistics, "drayage" often gets overlooked — overshadowed by ocean freight, customs clearance, and last-mile delivery. But drayage is the critical link between the port and every point downstream. When drayage fails, everything else stalls. Containers sit. Demurrage fees accumulate. Your supply chain's tempo collapses.
BorderTek Solutions provides drayage and port services at major US ports, managing container pickup, chassis coordination, and time-critical port movement to keep your import and export supply chain flowing.
What Is Drayage?
Drayage refers to the short-distance transport of freight — typically a shipping container — from a port terminal to a nearby facility: a warehouse, distribution center, rail yard, or consolidation hub. The distance is usually under 100 miles, though some drayage moves extend further.
Despite the short distance, drayage is one of the most operationally complex segments of the supply chain:
- Port terminals operate on strict appointment systems, and missed appointments mean rescheduling delays
- Chassis availability is a chronic constraint at most US ports
- Container availability windows are governed by free time allowances — exceed them, and demurrage charges begin
- Port congestion can turn a 30-minute pickup into a half-day wait
The Demurrage and Detention Problem
Demurrage is the charge assessed by the ocean carrier when a container isn't picked up from the port terminal within the carrier's free time allowance (typically 3–5 days). Demurrage rates range from $100 to $300+ per container per day — and they compound.
Detention is the parallel charge for containers that are picked up but whose chassis/equipment isn't returned within the carrier's free time allowance.
Together, demurrage and detention represent one of the largest controllable costs in import supply chains. During peak port congestion periods (like the 2021–2022 West Coast delays), importers absorbed hundreds of millions of dollars in combined charges.
BorderTek's drayage operation is built around demurrage prevention:
- Proactive availability monitoring: We track container availability notices and schedule pickups immediately when containers are available.
- Appointment management: Port terminals require appointments for container pickup. Missing an appointment restarts the scheduling clock. BorderTek manages appointment queuing as a core operational function.
- Chassis pre-positioning: Chassis shortages are a leading cause of missed appointments. BorderTek maintains chassis relationships at all major ports we operate in.
Container Pickup: What Actually Happens at the Port
Here's the operational reality of a container pickup at a major US port:
1. Container availability. After CBP releases the cargo (customs clearance complete), the ocean carrier releases the container. Your drayage provider receives availability notification and schedules pickup.
2. Terminal appointment. The drayage driver books a pickup appointment through the terminal's system. Many terminals use electronic appointment systems (TOPS, LINX, etc.) with limited appointment windows.
3. Gate-in. The driver arrives at the terminal gate with appropriate documentation (booking number, container number, chassis). The gate clerk verifies and issues entry.
4. Chassis positioning. If the container is on the ground, a chassis is positioned under it. If it's stacked, a crane or reach stacker lifts it onto the chassis. This step is where chassis availability becomes critical.
5. Gate-out. The driver exits the terminal with the container. The carrier's free time clock for detention starts ticking at gate-out.
6. Delivery. The container is delivered to the consignee's facility, unloaded, and the chassis is returned to the pool within the free time allowance.
BorderTek manages every step of this process, providing visibility at each handoff.
Ports Where BorderTek Provides Drayage Services
BorderTek's drayage operation covers major US ports including:
- Los Angeles / Long Beach (San Pedro Bay): The largest US port complex, handling approximately 40% of all US imports
- New York / New Jersey: The largest port on the East Coast
- Savannah: The fourth-largest US container port and the fastest-growing
- Houston / Galveston: The dominant Gulf Coast port complex
- Seattle / Tacoma: The Pacific Northwest gateway
- Chicago (inland): A major inland intermodal hub
Drayage and Cross-Border: The Canada Dimension
For importers receiving goods at US ports and moving them onward into Canada, drayage integrates with BorderTek's cross-border trucking and customs clearance capabilities. The container is picked up at the US port, cleared through US customs (if applicable), and then moves to the border crossing under BorderTek's cross-border operations framework.
This integration eliminates the handoff friction that typically exists between port drayage providers and cross-border carriers — a gap where cargo often sits and costs accumulate. Learn more about BorderTek's Cross-Border Trucking services.
Intermodal Drayage: The First and Last Mile of Rail
Drayage also plays a critical role in intermodal freight — where containers move by rail for the long-haul leg and require truck transport for the first mile (from origin to rail ramp) and last mile (from destination rail ramp to final delivery).
BorderTek coordinates both port drayage and intermodal drayage, providing a consistent operational standard across both use cases. Explore BorderTek's Intermodal Freight services for the full picture.
What to Look for in a Drayage Provider
When evaluating drayage partners, shippers should assess:
- Port coverage: Does the provider have established operations at your specific port, or are they brokering to an unknown third party?
- Chassis relationships: Do they have direct access to chassis pools, or are they at the mercy of spot availability?
- Technology visibility: Can you track container status and appointment status in real time?
- Demurrage track record: Ask for data on their container pickup performance relative to free time windows.
BorderTek operates with direct carrier relationships at our core ports, maintaining chassis access and appointment priority that spot-market drayage cannot match.
Why BorderTek for Drayage and Port Services
BorderTek's drayage operation is built for reliability at the port — the highest-stakes, lowest-tolerance environment in freight logistics. We combine port expertise with customs clearance integration and cross-border capability to give importers a single operational partner from ocean freight release to final delivery.
Ready to stop losing money to demurrage? Explore BorderTek's Drayage and Port Services and put a proactive partner at your ports.