How to Avoid Costly Port Drayage Pitfalls in the US

Smart Strategies for Peak Season Port Drayage

Why This Matters Now:

With Black Friday/Cyber Monday and year-end port congestion approaching, 68% of shippers face unexpected drayage fees. Here's how to protect your bottom line.

Critical Cost-Saving Strategies

1. Master the Last Free Day (LFD) Countdown

The Problem:
Missing LFD triggers $200-$500/day in detention & demurrage (D&D) fees

Action Plan:
✅ Monitor 4 Key Milestones

⒈ Freight Release

▫  Confirm both HBL & MBL released

▫  Pay all CTF/PierPass fees

 ⒉ Customs Release

▫  Pre-clear before ATA (Arrival Time Actual)

▫  Expedite examinations

 ⒊ Container Available

▫  Track discharge status daily

▫  Challenge "closed area" delays

 ⒋ Appointment Booking

▫  Most ports allow only 4-day windows

▫  Some rail ramps: just 2 days

Pro Tip: Our automated system alerts you 72hrs before LFD with real-time status updates.

2. Optimize Chassis Utilization

Cost Triggers:

  •   Late empty returns: $50-$150/day

  •   Missed notifications: $75/incident

Best Practices:
✔ Same-Day Empty Notification

  •   Integrate WMS with drayage providers
      ✔ Priority Return Scheduling

  •   Book returns before 3PM cutoff
      ✔ Chassis Pool Management

  •   Use our 300+ chassis fleet to avoid third-party fees

Port Drayage Process Flow

Why Choose Shengshi Group?

50+ Years Port Expertise

  •   300+ owned trucks & chassis

  •   400,000 sq ft warehouse network

  •   C-TPAT certified since 2003

Peak Season Guarantees:

  •   LFD Monitoring: 98% on-time pickup rate

  •   Chassis Management: $1M+ annual client savings

  •   24/7 Bilingual Support: Cantonese/Mandarin/English