The critical first and last mile of your ocean freight supply chain. We move containers from ports and rail yards to your warehouse — fast, reliable, and demurrage-free.
Drayage is the short-distance transport of shipping containers — typically from ocean ports or rail intermodal yards to nearby warehouses, distribution centers, or transloading facilities. While the distance is short (usually under 100 miles), drayage is one of the most operationally complex segments of the supply chain.
It involves coordinating with port terminals, steamship lines, customs brokers, chassis providers, and receiving facilities — all while racing against free time clocks to avoid costly demurrage (port storage fees) and detention (chassis/container holding fees).
SwiftLink's drayage team manages this entire process. From the moment your container is discharged from the vessel, we track it through customs clearance, dispatch a driver with a chassis, pick up the container, and deliver it to your door — or transload it into a domestic 53-foot trailer for inland distribution.
Demurrage
Charges assessed by the port/terminal when a container sits beyond its allotted free time (typically 3–5 days). Can reach $150–$400+ per day.
Detention
Charges from the steamship line when you hold their container or chassis beyond the allowed period after leaving the port. Billed per day.
Per Diem
Daily rental fee for the chassis used to transport the container. Can be carrier-owned, pool chassis, or steamship-line provided.
Transloading
Unloading an ocean container (20' or 40') and reloading the cargo into a 53' domestic trailer for more efficient inland transportation.
Last Free Day (LFD)
The final day a container can sit at the port without incurring demurrage charges. Missing LFD can cost hundreds per day.
End-to-end container logistics from port discharge to final destination, including transloading, storage, and empty container return.
Container pickup from marine terminals and delivery to your warehouse, distribution center, or transload facility. We manage terminal appointments, chassis procurement, and same-day dispatch to beat your last free day.
Container pickup from intermodal rail ramps (BNSF, UP, CSX, NS) and delivery to final destination. Includes ramp notification monitoring, appointment scheduling, and chassis coordination for seamless rail-to-road transitions.
Unload ocean containers (20' or 40') and reload cargo into 53' domestic trailers for cost-effective inland distribution. Reduces per-mile transportation costs and eliminates ocean container detention charges on long-haul moves.
We source chassis from pool providers (DCLI, TRAC, Flexi-Van), steamship lines, or our carrier partners. Chassis availability and per diem are managed proactively to prevent delays and control costs.
Short-term container storage at port-area yards when your warehouse isn't ready to receive. Avoids port demurrage by pulling containers before LFD and holding them at lower-cost off-dock locations.
Load empty containers at your facility, transport to the port, and deliver to the designated terminal for vessel loading. We coordinate cut-off times, ERD (earliest return date), and terminal gate appointments.
SwiftLink provides drayage coverage at every major US port and rail intermodal facility, with local drivers who know the terminals inside and out.
The busiest port complex in North America. Handles over 9 million TEUs annually. Terminals include APM, Pier 400, TTI, ITS, PCT, LBCT, and more.
The largest port on the East Coast. Terminals at Elizabeth, Newark, Bayonne, and Staten Island serve the entire Northeast corridor and Midwest via rail.
The fastest-growing port in the US. Garden City Terminal is the largest single-operator container terminal in North America with direct rail to the Southeast and Midwest.
A major Gulf Coast gateway. Barbours Cut and Bayport terminals serve the energy, petrochemical, and manufacturing sectors across Texas and the South Central US.
Deep-water port with the new Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal. Strong Southeast distribution network serving automotive, manufacturing, and retail importers.
Northern California's primary port. Key gateway for agricultural exports and imports serving the Bay Area, Sacramento Valley, and Central California markets.
The Northwest Seaport Alliance. Closest US port to Asia with strong intermodal connections to the Pacific Northwest, Mountain West, and Midwest regions.
One of the deepest natural harbors on the East Coast. Virginia International Terminals serve as a key mid-Atlantic hub with excellent inland rail connectivity.
From vessel arrival to warehouse delivery, here's the step-by-step process SwiftLink manages on every drayage move.
Your container is discharged from the vessel and placed on the terminal yard. We monitor vessel ETAs and terminal availability notifications in real time.
Once the container is available and customs-cleared, we dispatch a local drayage driver with the appropriate chassis. Terminal appointment is secured in advance.
We coordinate with your customs broker to ensure the container has a freight release and customs release before the driver arrives. No release = no pickup.
Driver enters the terminal, mounts the container on the chassis, and departs through the out-gate. We confirm pickup with a gate-out timestamp and photo.
Container delivered directly to your warehouse for live unload — or taken to a transload facility to be cross-docked into a 53' domestic trailer for inland shipping.
Drayage is where delays are most expensive and most common. Our port expertise and carrier relationships keep your containers moving and your costs down.
Our drayage carriers have established relationships at every major terminal. This means priority appointment slots, faster gate processing, and fewer turn-aways during congestion events.
We monitor last free days and proactively dispatch before deadlines. If your warehouse isn't ready, we'll pull to an off-dock yard to stop the demurrage clock and save you hundreds per day.
Chassis shortages are a leading cause of drayage delays. Our carriers maintain access to multiple chassis pools (DCLI, TRAC, Flexi-Van) and private fleets to ensure equipment availability.
We work directly with your customs broker and freight forwarder to ensure both freight release and customs release are in place before we dispatch. No wasted trips, no terminal fees for failed pickups.
Track your container from vessel discharge through terminal availability, gate-out, en route, and delivery. Automated milestone alerts keep you and your team informed at every step.
After unloading, we return empty containers to the steamship line's designated depot or terminal — on time and to the correct location to avoid per diem charges and off-hire disputes.
Tell us your port, container number, and destination. We'll provide a competitive drayage rate and have a driver dispatched before your last free day.
Coverage at all major US ports • Same-day dispatch available • Demurrage-free guarantee