Drayage Guide
Port shipping, explained.
New to container drayage? These short guides cover what happens to a container between the port and your door, and what drives the cost.
- How LA/Long Beach drayage worksWhat port drayage is, how import and export container moves work at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and who does what.
- Container sizes and typesThe ocean container sizes and types you'll see in LA/Long Beach drayage, and why the exact size and type matter for your quote.
- Cargo weight, total weight and overweightWhy the weight of your goods is only part of the legal picture, how gross and axle limits apply, what different chassis change, and when a permit is needed.
- Chassis use and chassis daysWhat a chassis is, how chassis days are counted, why a drop or a prepull adds days, and how chassis charges appear on a drayage quote.
- Demurrage, per diem, detention and last free dayThe difference between demurrage, container per diem and driver detention, what the last free day means, and why these charges can't be fixed in advance.
- Prepulls and yard storageWhat a prepull is, when it saves money, what it adds to the cost, and how yard storage days are estimated on a drayage quote.
- Live unload vs. dropThe difference between a live unload and a drop, how each one affects chassis days, trips and waiting time, and how to choose.
- Terminal appointments, empty returns and EIRsHow terminal appointments work at LA/Long Beach, where empties go back, and why the EIR's actual gate dates decide per diem, chassis days and storage.
- What we need for an accurate quoteThe shipment details that make a drayage or power-only quote accurate, where to find them, and what happens when you're not sure.
- What is a CFS pickup? LCL vs. FCLHow less-than-container-load (LCL) ocean freight moves through a container freight station, how a CFS pickup works, and how it differs from full-container drayage.
- Airport ground cartageWhat airport cargo ground pickup and delivery involves, how it differs from booking air freight, and what's needed before an airline cargo facility releases a shipment.
- Why dimensions, weight, stackability and dock access affect priceHow the size, weight and stackability of palletized or loose freight, and the dock and access at each end, decide the truck, the time and the price of a local delivery.
- Documents and release information for CFS and airport pickupsThe release status, references and documents a CFS or airport cargo pickup usually needs, who provides them, and why pickup depends on them.
Looking for a term? See the drayage glossary.
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