Drayage Basics

Question 1

What is Drayage?

Answer 1

Short-distance transportation of containerized cargo, typically from port to warehouse or rail.

Question 2

What is a Chassis?

Answer 2

A wheeled trailer used to transport shipping containers over the road.

Question 3

Define Steamship Line (SSL).

Answer 3

A company that owns and operates container ships (e.g., Maersk, MSC).

Question 4

What is Pier Pass?

Answer 4

A fee in California ports to encourage off-peak container pickup.

Question 5

What does Detention refer to?

Answer 5

Fee charged when a trucker keeps a container past allotted free time at a warehouse.

Question 6

What is Demurrage?

Answer 6

Fee charged when a container sits too long at a port terminal before being picked up.

Question 7

What causes Port Congestion?

Answer 7

Delays caused by overcrowding at port terminals, limiting container movement.

Question 8

What is a Container Yard (CY)?

Answer 8

A designated area at the port where containers are stored before pickup or after drop-off.

Question 9

What is a Terminal Appointment?

Answer 9

Time slot required to access a specific terminal for pickup/drop-off.

Question 10

What is a Gate Fee?

Answer 10

Fee charged by terminals for entering/exiting with a container.

Question 11

Define Flip Fee.

Answer 11

Fee to transfer a container from one chassis to another.

Question 12

What is Port Drayage?

Answer 12

Drayage specifically involving pickup or delivery to a seaport.

Question 13

What does Rail Drayage refer to?

Answer 13

Short-haul trucking service to/from an intermodal rail ramp.

Question 14

What is a Wheeled Container?

Answer 14

A container mounted on a chassis, ready for pickup.

Question 15

What is a Grounded Container?

Answer 15

A container stored on the ground at a terminal, not on a chassis.

Question 16

What does Last Free Day (LFD) mean?

Answer 16

The final day before demurrage fees start accumulating.

Question 17

What is Free Time?

Answer 17

The time allowed at a terminal or consignee’s dock before fees (detention/demurrage) apply.

Question 18

What does Empty Return refer to?

Answer 18

The act of returning an empty container to a designated depot or port terminal.

Question 19

What is a Container Number?

Answer 19

The unique ID of a container (e.g., MSCU1234567).

Question 20

What is Chassis Split?

Answer 20

Occurs when the chassis and container are located at different places; may incur extra cost.

Question 21

What is Prepull?

Answer 21

When a carrier pulls the container from the port and holds it in their yard before final delivery.

Question 22

Define Per Diem.

Answer 22

Daily fee charged by ocean carriers for late return of containers.

Question 23

What is a Drayman?

Answer 23

A local trucker who performs the drayage move.

Question 24

What does Street Turn mean?

Answer 24

Reusing a container for a new export load without returning it to the port.

Question 25

What is a Port Code?

Answer 25

A four-letter UN/LOCODE identifying a specific port (e.g., USLAX = Los Angeles).

Question 26

What is a Customs Hold?

Answer 26

A delay placed by U.S. Customs for inspection or paperwork clearance.

Question 27

Define Freight Release.

Answer 27

Confirmation that all freight charges are paid and container can be released from the port.

Question 28

What is Container Type?

Answer 28

Specifies the size/type (e.g., 20’, 40’, HC, reefer).

Question 29

What is an Overweight Container?

Answer 29

A container exceeding legal road weight limits and requiring permits or special routing.

Question 30

What is a Drayage Zone?

Answer 30

Designated areas that determine pricing and availability for port deliveries.

Question 31

What is Outgate?

Answer 31

When a container leaves a port or terminal.

Question 32

What is Ingate?

Answer 32

When a container is returned to a port or terminal.

Question 33

What does Vessel ETA stand for?

Answer 33

Estimated time of arrival for the ship carrying the container.

Question 34

What is Empty Repo?

Answer 34

Empty container repositioning to areas with high export demand.

Question 35

What is a Congestion Surcharge?

Answer 35

Extra fee added to cover increased costs due to terminal delays.

Question 36

What does Container Flip mean?

Answer 36

Physically lifting a container onto a different chassis.

Question 37

What is Hazmat Drayage?

Answer 37

Drayage of hazardous material containers requiring special handling and placards.

Question 38

What is a Drayage Interchange?

Answer 38

Document authorizing a carrier to pick up or drop off a container at a terminal.

Question 39

What does LFD Notification refer to?

Answer 39

Alert sent when container is approaching its last free day.

Question 40

What is Port Cutoff?

Answer 40

The latest date/time cargo must be delivered to the port for loading onto a vessel.

Question 41

What is an Empty Container Depot?

Answer 41

Off-port yard where empty containers are stored or returned.

Question 42

What is a Night Gate?

Answer 42

Terminals open at night for after-hours container pickup or drop.

Question 43

What is a Triaxle Chassis?

Answer 43

Special chassis used for moving overweight 20’ containers.

Question 44

What does Roll (Rolled Container) mean?

Answer 44

When a container’s scheduled vessel is full, it’s postponed to the next sailing.

Question 45

What is a Port Hold?

Answer 45

General hold status preventing container release for pickup.

Question 46

What does Over-the-Road (OTR) Drayage refer to?

Answer 46

Drayage move that involves longer distances and compliance with road regulations.

Question 47

What is a Reefer Container?

Answer 47

Refrigerated container that needs power and temperature control during drayage.

Question 48

What is Import Drayage?

Answer 48

Drayage involving inbound cargo from ocean to destination.

Question 49

What is Export Drayage?

Answer 49

Drayage moving cargo from shipper to port for outbound shipping.

Question 50

What does Nested Move mean?

Answer 50

Combining an empty pickup with a loaded drop to maximize driver efficiency.