The short-distance transportation of goods that often involves the movement of containerized cargo between ports, rail yards, or warehouses. It plays a crucial role in intermodal shipping, helping to transfer goods between different modes of transport.
Since drayage involves short hauls, usually completed in a single trucker’s shift, it typically serves one metropolitan area, making the transportation process quicker and more efficient.
Types of Drayage
Inter-Carrier
Refers to moving cargo between different carriers, such as transferring goods from a trucking terminal to a rail yard
Intra-Carrier
Involves transporting freight between two locations owned by the same carrier, like moving cargo from an intermodal hub to a rail yard
Door-to-Door
Delivers goods directly from the sender to the customer using road transport
Expedited
Used for time-sensitive shipments, ensuring that goods reach their destination as quickly as possible
Shuttle
Happens when cargo is temporarily moved to a parking lot due to overcrowding at the original location. This can apply to both loaded and empty containers
Pier
Involves transporting intermodal cargo from a rail hub or warehouse to a dock or pier using trucks on highways and roads