Port Drayage Operations: How Short-Haul Trailer Haulage Works

Drayage is the short-distance haulage of containers between ports and inland destinations. It is one of the most important — and least understood — segments of container logistics. This guide explains how drayage operations work and what fleet buyers should know.

1. What is Drayage?

Drayage is the truck transportation of containers over short distances — typically less than 200 miles (320 km). It connects port terminals to:

• Inland container depots (ICD)
• Rail intermodal terminals
• Distribution centres and warehouses
• Empty container depots

2. The Drayage Cycle

1. Truck arrives at terminal, picks up loaded container on chassis
2. Truck departs terminal, routes to inland destination
3. Truck arrives at inland destination, container is unloaded
4. Truck returns to terminal, either with empty container or with another loaded container

3. Drayage Equipment

• Skeletal chassis: dedicated container carrier (most common)
• Tractor unit: standard semi-trailer tractor (not terminal-tractor specific)
• For terminal-to-terminal hauls: short-wheelbase trucks, sometimes terminal tractors

4. Drayage Route Classes

• Local drayage: <50 km, terminal to nearby depot
• Regional drayage: 50-200 km, terminal to regional DC
• Long-haul drayage: 200+ km, occasional cross-border moves

5. Operational Metrics

• Turnaround time: 1.5-3 hours for local drayage
• Cycles per day: 2-4 typical
• Empty miles: 30-50% of total miles driven
• Equipment utilisation: 70-85% target

6. Cost Drivers

• Fuel: 30-40% of drayage operating cost
• Driver wages: 25-35%
• Equipment depreciation: 15-20%
• Maintenance: 10-15%
• Insurance and overhead: 10-15%

7. Trailer Fleet Considerations

• Mix: 60-80% chassis, 10-20% reefer chassis, 10-20% flatbed for break-bulk
• Age profile: 5-10 years to keep performance optimised
• Spec for high-cycle operation: 12,000+ cycle rated twist locks
• For coastal ports: anti-corrosion chassis underbody

8. Common Drayage Routes (Examples)

• Los Angeles / Long Beach → Inland Empire, CA (terminal to ICD)
• Rotterdam → Antwerp border (cross-border EU)
• Singapore → Johor Bahru, Malaysia (cross-border ASEAN)
• Durban → Johannesburg (cross-region South Africa)

9. Regulatory Considerations

• Hours of service rules vary by country and region
• Cross-border operations require customs brokers and proper documentation
• Weight limits: most regions cap at 36-44 tons gross for legal operation

10. Technology in Drayage

• GPS tracking and route optimisation
• ELD (Electronic Logging Device) integration
• Appointment scheduling with terminals
• Visibility platforms linking shippers, carriers, and terminals

FAQ

What is the difference between drayage and line haul?

Drayage is short-distance, typically within 200 miles. Line haul is long-distance, usually multiple days. Drayage uses local drivers; line haul uses over-the-road drivers.

What is the typical drayage rate?

Varies by region. Typical US drayage: $300-600 per move. EU: €200-500 per move. Asia-Pacific: $80-300 per move.

How many drayage cycles per day per truck?

2-4 cycles typical. High-throughput operations (LA port, Singapore) reach 4-6 with optimised terminal appointments.

For fleet enquiries and tender support, contact sales@fotonintl.com. This guide is published by a manufacturer exporting 30,000+ semi-trailer units annually to 40+ countries.