The Importance of Container Drayage

 

Container drayage is an important part of supply chain management. Without it, your products cannot move from one place to another. Aside from the transport of goods from ship to ship, it is also used to connect various modes of transport; learn more about this topic.

 

Whether you are transporting products from a port, intermodal terminal, or border crossing point, container drayage is necessary for the efficient flow of your cargo. It is a vital component of any supply chain and ensures safe, timely delivery of your goods. Thousands of drayage movements take place each year across the country. In fact, the Intermodal Association of North America estimates that there are around 60 million drayage movements in North America every year.

 

The drayage process starts when a truck arrives to pick up the goods from a rail hub or dock. They then transport the products to a storage facility or warehouse. Typically, these goods are transported in a large steel shipping container. If your shipment involves temperature-sensitive merchandise, it may need to be stored in a refrigerated container.

 

Drayage is often the shortest segment of a logistics journey. For instance, a drayage trucker might pickup a box of flowers from a retail venue and transport it to a warehouse, where it is stored for later delivery. There are several types of drayage that can be used, and it is important to find out which type is best for your goods; Find more details on this additional reading.

 

Short-haul drayage is usually used to transport goods within a transport hub. Similarly, long-haul drayage is sometimes needed to transport cargo from a port to a storage or intermodal terminal. Depending on the distance between the two points, there may be different fees for drayage.

 

There are several reasons for the increased volume of intermodal freight. Increasing fuel costs, driver shortages, and freight delays are just a few of the factors. This increased volume has resulted in the need for more drayage moves. Also, more shippers are opting for rail movements. These movements are more eco-friendly because they use multiple modes of transportation.

 

Moreover, intermodal shipping can be cheaper than traditional trucking. While there is a fee for each movement, the cost of drayage can be minimized if the container is delivered directly to the destination warehouse. When the container spends more time in the shipping terminal, you may be charged a detention fee. However, the amount of detention will vary from carrier to carrier. You may be charged a penalty if the carrier returns the container late, as well.

 

Regardless of the kind of drayage that is needed, it is important to work with a reliable carrier. In order to reduce the risk of problems, you should ensure that your carrier has a high level of training and experience. Having an unfamiliar driver in charge of your shipment can reduce efficiency.

 

Another benefit of drayage is that it eliminates congestion. Especially in ports, it is important to have a smooth transportation system. Because of the small size of port facilities, it is difficult to move large trucks from one place to another. Even if the ships arrive in an hour, it could take a day to unload the containers.If you want to know more about this topic, then click here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supply_chain_management.