Freight glossaryDrayagePortsTrucking
Drayage
Definition
Drayage is the short-distance truck move of ocean or rail freight, such as hauling a container from a marine terminal to a warehouse.
In simple English
It is the truck trip that gets a container out of the port and to a warehouse, or from a warehouse back to the port.
What it means
The FHWA glossary defines it as "transporting of rail or ocean freight by truck to an intermediate or final destination; typically a charge for pickup/delivery of goods moving short distances (e.g., from marine terminal to warehouse)."[1]
A drayage move at the Port of New York and New Jersey involves more than the drive. The trucker needs a TWIC and a SeaLink card, a registered truck with an RFID tag, proof of UIIA registration, a clear container with no holds and, at some terminals, an appointment.[2] Beyond the base rate, drayage invoices often carry accessorials such as chassis splits, pre-pulls and chassis per diem; see chassis split, pre-pull and street turn fees.
Example
An import container is released at an Elizabeth terminal. A drayage carrier picks it up on a chassis, delivers it to a transload warehouse in central New Jersey for unloading, and returns the empty container and chassis afterward.
Related
Related terms
- ChassisA chassis is a wheeled trailer frame built to carry a shipping container over the road; the container is...Glossary
- Chassis SplitA chassis split is a drayage move where the chassis and the container are at different locations, so the...Glossary
- Pre-PullA pre-pull is picking up a container from the port before its delivery day and parking it at the trucker's...Glossary
- Street TurnA street turn is reusing an empty import container for an export load without first returning it to the...Glossary
- TWICA TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential) is the federal credential that workers, including...Glossary
- UIIAThe UIIA (Uniform Intermodal Interchange and Facilities Access Agreement) is the standard contract that...Glossary
- Delivery OrderA delivery order (D.O.) is a document issued by the consignee or its customs broker that authorizes release...Glossary
- DemurrageDemurrage is a charge for a loaded container that stays at the marine terminal after its free time runs out.Glossary
Related questions
- What Does a Trucker Need to Pick Up a Container at Port Newark?At the Port Newark and Elizabeth terminals, a driver needs a valid driver's license, a TWIC and a Port...Answer
- What Happens After a Container Arrives at Port Newark?After the vessel discharges, the container has to be released by both Customs and the ocean carrier before...Answer
Related guides
Sources
- Federal Highway Administration, Office of Freight Management and Operations, “Freight Glossary,” Government glossary. Accessed September 30, 2026.
- Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, “Truckers Resource Guidebook (revised July 2023),” Port authority guidance. Published July 2023. Accessed September 30, 2026.
General operational information, not legal, customs or regulatory advice. Rules and rates change; confirm current requirements with the agency, carrier or contract that governs your shipment.