Drayage

Drayage is moving a container or trailer a short distance by truck — usually between a port or rail terminal and a warehouse, or between two terminals. It is the first or last leg of an ocean or rail journey, and its timing decides whether a shipper pays demurrage at the terminal or detention on the container.

What drayage covers

The US Federal Highway Administration defines drayage as transporting rail or ocean freight by truck to an intermediate or final destination — typically a charge for short-distance pickup or delivery, such as from a marine terminal to a warehouse. The truck pulls the container on a chassis, and the move is short, but it connects the ship or train to everything after it.

Merchant haulage or carrier haulage

The Federal Maritime Commission describes merchant haulage as the arrangement in which "the trucker or shipper is responsible for arranging and paying for overland transportation between a port and inland facilities". Under carrier haulage the line arranges the truck — but the consignee still has paperwork to deliver on time: Hapag-Lloyd's US guide, for example, ties its demurrage waivers to a delivery order submitted five days before the vessel arrives and an appointment given within 48 hours of its trucker's call.

Worked example: one missed appointment

Suppose a line allows 4 free days at the terminal and then charges USD 150 a day in demurrage, and the trucker's first appointment is the day after free time ends. The container sits a day longer than planned.

The mistake people make

Booking the truck after the container is available. Terminal appointments, chassis and drivers all run short when a big vessel discharges, and the free time keeps running while the shipper looks for them.