Send the lane and cargo
Origin, destination, commodity, volume, Incoterm and the timing you are working to.
Ground & Drayage
Ground freight, tied to the international plan.
FTL, LTL and port drayage across the inland legs that decide whether an ocean or air shipment actually reaches the door on time.
Overview
The inland leg is where many international plans break.
Port appointments, chassis availability, warehouse receiving windows and driver capacity can erase the gains of a good ocean or air rate.
Drayage is more than a port pickup
Containers need appointment timing, equipment checks, demurrage control and warehouse coordination. We keep those details connected to the international shipment.
Demurrage and detention guide
FTL vs LTL depends on cargo and timing
Dedicated truckload protects control and speed. LTL reduces cost for smaller freight but adds terminal handling. The right answer depends on pallet count, delivery appointment and handling risk.
Freight class guideGround should not be quoted last
A shipment is not really door-to-door until the inland cost and delivery window are known. We price drayage and delivery early to protect landed cost.
Cost breakdown
Ground Options
Choose the inland service around control and cost.
Port Drayage Container pickup, chassis coordination and delivery appointments tied to vessel arrival. Quote drayage Full Truckload Dedicated trucks for direct moves where timing, security or volume matters. Explore FTL Less Than Truckload Per-pallet inland freight for smaller deliveries and port-to-door distribution. Explore LTL Why Suaid
Inland execution connected to the shipment plan.
Carrier-neutral routing
Options are compared on fit, cost and risk instead of a carrier's owned capacity.
One accountable owner
A single coordinator keeps the shipment moving across parties and time zones.
Documents reviewed early
Commercial documents, HS codes and handoff details are checked before they delay the move.
Appointment control
Port, warehouse and delivery windows are planned before the truck is dispatched.
50-state coverage
Ground partners support inland legs across US import and export lanes.
Fee exposure managed
Demurrage, detention, waiting time and failed delivery risk are handled early.
How It Works
From lane to delivery in four steps.
We shape the options
Truckload, LTL and drayage options are checked against appointment windows, cargo profile and fee exposure.
You approve the plan
One all-in proposal with the trade-offs shown before anything is booked.
We coordinate the handoffs
Carrier dispatch, port pickup, warehouse appointment and delivery updates stay connected to the international file.
Build a drayage budget from the base haul and accessorials
The base port-to-door haul is only one part of a drayage budget. Many extras can move the total. Think fuel, chassis, pre-pull, storage, waiting time, overweight handling, permits and tolls. Appointment limits, detention and demurrage boundaries count too.
A quote you can compare needs the full picture. Give the terminal, the delivery postcode, the container size and weight, and the ready date. Add the last free day, appointment rules, live-load or drop need and the empty-return spot. Ask which extras are included, which pass through and which bill only when an event occurs.
- Terminal, delivery and empty-return spots
- Container size, weight and overweight status
- Ready date, last free day and appointment window
- Chassis, pre-pull, storage and waiting assumptions
FAQ
Ground and drayage, answered plainly.
The truck leg should be planned before the cargo reaches the terminal.
Yes. Drayage is coordinated with vessel arrival, terminal availability, chassis needs and warehouse delivery windows.
Use FTL when the cargo needs a dedicated truck, direct delivery, less handling or enough volume to justify the full trailer.
Yes. Inland delivery can be included in the same quote so the landed cost is visible before approval.
Ground coverage is available across all 50 US states through vetted carrier partners.
We plan terminal availability, appointments, documentation and warehouse readiness before the container becomes time-sensitive.
Proof In Numbers
Operational results, not marketing rounding.
50
US states
Inland carrier coverage
FTL/LTL
Truck modes
Matched to volume and timing
Door
Final handoff
Connected to ocean and air files
Types
The Three Kinds of Drayage
Drayage is the short move that connects the long ones. Which type you need depends on where the box has to end up.
- Port drayage — Container moved from the marine terminal to a warehouse, and the empty returned afterwards.
- Rail drayage — Container moved between an inland rail ramp and the final address.
- Transload — Cargo moved out of the ocean container into domestic trailers. It avoids per diem and often fits more freight per trailer.
Cost
Free Time, Demurrage, and Per Diem
Most unplanned drayage cost is not the trucking. It is the clock. Two different clocks run at the same time, and they are often confused.
| Clock | What it measures | Who charges it | How to stop it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demurrage | Container sitting inside the terminal | The terminal or carrier | Collect the box before free days end |
| Per diem / detention | Container held outside the terminal | The carrier | Unload and return the empty quickly |
| Driver detention | Truck waiting at your dock | The trucker | Unload within the free window |
| Chassis rental | Days the chassis is in use | Chassis provider | Return with the empty, not later |
Planning
How to Keep Drayage Cost Predictable
Drayage prices react to timing and paperwork, both of which you control more than you think.
- Send the arrival notice and customs release to the trucker as soon as you have them. Most delays start here.
- Book the delivery appointment before the vessel arrives, not after.
- Check the terminal's appointment system for empty return. A refused empty keeps per diem running.
- Ask about triaxle or overweight permits early if the container is heavy. Not every truck can legally take it.
- Consider transload when the box would sit at your dock for days.
- Group deliveries by terminal and day where you can. Fewer trips, lower cost.
Checklist
What Your Trucker Needs, and When
Drayage is a scheduling problem more than a driving problem. Send these and the appointment holds.
- Container and booking numbers — Sent as soon as the vessel is confirmed, not on arrival day.
- Arrival notice — Confirms the discharge date and the terminal where the box will land.
- Customs release — No release, no pickup. This is the single most common cause of a wasted trip.
- Delivery address and hours — Include the receiving window and whether an appointment is required.
- Weight ticket — Tells the trucker whether a standard chassis is legal for the load.
- Empty return instructions — The depot can change late. Confirm it before the driver leaves your site.
Glossary
Drayage Terms on the Invoice
Short moves, long list of charge codes. These are the ones to check first.
- Pre-pull — Collecting the container early and holding it on the trucker's yard to stop demurrage.
- Chassis split — When the container and the chassis are at different locations, adding a trip.
- Dry run — A trip where the box could not be collected, usually for a missing release.
- Triaxle — A chassis with an extra axle for heavy containers, required by weight law on many roads.
- Yard storage — Charged when the loaded box waits on the trucker's yard for your delivery slot.
Active Lanes
Popular lanes for Ground & Drayage
Industries Served
Industries we serve
Sectors that rely on this product the most.
Free Tools
Free Logistics Tools
Explore All Services
Services rarely travel alone.
Browse the full catalog by family. Every line connects to the same operating thread and the same accountable coordinator.
Moving the freight itself: ocean, air and inland legs matched to cargo, timing and landed cost.
Storage, equipment and clearance kept in the same operating thread as the move.
Route strategy, cost modelling and protection before the booking is placed.
Related insights
Guides written by the operating team, the same people who quote and move the freight.
Get In Touch
Anything you need, we're here to help.
Talk to a real freight coordinator. Pick the channel that fits how fast you need an answer.