Port Drayage | A Detailed Breakdown of Common U.S. Drayage Fees

In international freight transportation, you'll encounter numerous complex items and charges. One such cost is U.S. drayage fees, which refer to the transportation expense of moving goods from ports to warehouses or designated locations. With the growing demand for U.S. logistics, drayage has become a significant component of cross-border trade costs.

U.S. drayage fees are not a single flat rate but rather a combination of various charges. Today, using Shengshi Group's real-time drayage quotes, we’ll break down the most common fees.

Understanding U.S. Drayage Fees

  1. Base Rate

     ○  The core drayage fee, excluding chassis rental (unlike in China, U.S. truck heads and chassis are separate).

  2. Fuel Surcharge

      ○  Added when fuel prices spike beyond carriers' cost tolerance.

  3. Chassis Fee

      ○  Daily rental fee (minimum 3 days), typically $50/day.

  4. Prepull Fee ($150-$150−300 per container)

    ○ Charged when containers are pulled early from ports/rail yards (usually at night) to ensure on-time delivery. Common scenarios:

          ■  Warehouse requires morning delivery, so containers are pre-pulled and stored at the carrier’s yard.

          ■  Containers are pulled before the Last Free Day (LFD) to avoid demurrage charges (often higher than prepull + storage costs).

  5. Yard Storage Fee ($50-$50−100 per container/day)

      ○  Applies when containers are stored at the carrier’s yard due to:

          ■  Pre-pull arrangements before final delivery.

          ■  Delays in returning empty containers due to unavailable appointment slots.

  6.  Chassis Split Fee (100−250 per split)

      ○  Charged when chassis and containers are picked up/returned at separate locations (e.g., off-dock chassis yards). Each split (pickup + return) counts as two charges.

  7. Port Waiting Time ($85-$85−150/hour after 1-2 free hours)

      ○  Applied during severe port congestion when drivers wait excessively.

  8. Warehouse Waiting Time ($85-$85−150/hour after 1-2 free hours)

      ○  Charged for delays during live unloads at warehouses.

  9. Pier Pass Fee ($50\mathrm{/}20ft,$50/20ft,100/40ft)

      ○  A traffic mitigation fee for trucks picking up containers at LA/Long Beach ports.

  10. Peak Season Surcharge ($150-$150−250)

      ○  A seasonal premium during high-demand periods (similar to holiday price surges).

$100<br>$

Other Potential Fees

• ●  Drop/Pick Fee

• ●  Toll Fees

• ●  Layover (Overtime Charges)

• ●  Customs Exam Handling Fee

• ●  Rush Order Fee

Note: Fees vary by carrier and market conditions. The above figures are estimates only.

Pro Tips to Minimize Costs

• ●  Clarify responsibility with clients upfront—U.S. drayage costs easily exceed thousands.

• ●  Communicate cargo specifics with carriers to optimize transport methods.

• ●  Partner with experts like Shengshi Group for end-to-end U.S. drayage solutions and advisory services.

About Shengshi Group

Founded in 1973 in San Francisco, Shengshi Group is a full-service supply chain management provider for global cross-border sellers. Our U.S. services include:
     ✔ Nationwide port drayage
     ✔ Customs clearance
     ✔ 3PL warehousing & distribution
     ✔ Overseas transshipment

As a top U.S. customs broker, we offer:

• ●  50+ years of experience with a bilingual team.

• ●  C-TPAT certification (since 2003).

• ●  4,900+ e-commerce sellers & 150+ Amazon vendors served.

• ●  10,000+ 40’ containers shipped monthly (2022).

Need hassle-free drayage? Contact Shengshi Group today!