Drayage fees comprise a base fee that is determined by the weight of the freight and the kind of handling needed. We use intermodal trucking as part of the drayage services that not only offer competitive rates but also transportation to the cargo that is on time. It typically includes your overall shipping fee. Trucks and vans are the best types of drayage carriers. It is a small but critical part of the supply chain that helps fill gaps between different modes of transportation.
Importance of Container Drayage Services
Container drayage services help move inventory over short distances. The drayage fees comprise a base fee, accessorial fees, and equipment costs. Find out how you can reduce the amount you are paying for the drayage services. Shippers also complain about the cost of drayage services, particularly because drayage is the shortest part of a freight shipment’s journey. Drayage is an important part of the shipping and logistics industry. You must understand the drayage rates and how they can be calculated. You can’t just eliminate drayage fees entirely but there are ways to reduce its costs.
The guide here outlines what drayage is, how to calculate the rates, and reduce the costs associated with drayage.
What is Drayage?
It is an essential logistics service that is used to transport goods over small distances. It is often called the first mile. It is part of a larger shipping process that moves freight to its final place. Drayage also helps fill the gaps in the supply chain by moving goods between terminals, warehouses, ports, and retailers. The drayage services are usually performed using trucks. It is the smallest link in the supply chain.
There are plenty of drayage moves that can be completed using a single shift. Usually, drayage carriers provide only the truck. Any other equipment that is chassis and containers must be given to them. There are various classifications of drayage. Shippers must choose different modes of transportation. Time sensitivity, route, and availability of different transportation modes will help shippers determine the classification. Businesses use various types of drayage for shipping.
The various classifications of drayage are:
They are used in the logistics industry and come in various specifications. They accommodate different kinds of drayage loads. Bulk freight requires the largest container which is about the size of around 40 to 45 feet long. The smaller containers are usually 20 feet long. All containers are around 6 to 8 feet in height. Some container manufacturers build custom units for clients.
The common types of containers are:
– Dry containers
– Refrigerated containers
– Flat rack containers
– Open top containers
– High cube containers
Intermodal Freight Transport
Drayage is usually a type of intermodal transportation that involves combining various carrier vehicles like trains, trucks, and ocean liners to easily move the goods from one point of origin to the final destination. There are plenty of international shipping companies that provide great transportation solutions including intermodal and drayage services. There is smooth drayage that helps keep the inventory moving once it arrives at the destination port. You can easily collect goods from railways, ports, and airports. It is an overall complex process that requires strategic networking and industry experience.
If your customer is open for pick up and delivery, you can easily try to get a trucker to pick up the box that morning and easily load and unload the stuff the same day. Drayage also fills the gap in the supply chain by moving the goods between terminals, ports, and retailers.
A drop fee is also charged by the trucker to drop off the container at the warehouse and then later pick it up once it has been loaded and offloaded. A drop fee becomes essential when you are unable to unload the cargo quickly. It is important to check the carrier in advance as some carriers will charge a flat rate for a drop while others will charge the freight rate double. The carriers will not charge a fee at all as the delivery location is in the predetermined drop zone.
These are the ways container drayage fee services are used in the United States of America.