Drayage is the short-distance trucking of a shipping container between a port or rail terminal and a nearby warehouse, distribution centre or another terminal. It is the first or last land leg of a container's journey, and in Canada it usually happens around the ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, Montreal, Halifax and Saint John, and around inland rail terminals in Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg and other hubs.
Key takeaways
- Drayage moves containers, not loose freight. The truck pulls the box on a chassis from the terminal to your door (or the reverse).
- Most drayage trips are under 100–150 km, but they are some of the most time-sensitive moves in the supply chain because of terminal appointments and free-time deadlines.
- Price depends on distance, terminal wait time, chassis, fuel, container weight and any accessorial charges such as waiting time, storage or pre-pull.
- The fastest way to compare carriers is to use a city directory such as the Toronto drayage directory or Vancouver drayage directory.
Where does the word "drayage" come from?
A "dray" was a low, sideless cart used to haul heavy loads short distances in port cities. The term stayed in use as ports moved to containers, and today it means the truck leg that connects ocean or rail freight with the road network.
How drayage works, step by step
- The container arrives at a marine terminal (for example Deltaport in Delta, BC, or a terminal at the Port of Montreal) or at an inland rail terminal such as CN's Brampton Intermodal Terminal or CPKC's Vaughan terminal near Toronto.
- Release is confirmed. The ocean carrier releases the box once freight charges are paid, and CBSA releases it for customs purposes.
- The carrier books a terminal appointment and sends a truck with a chassis to pick up the container.
- Delivery to your facility. The container is either unloaded "live" while the driver waits or dropped and picked up later.
- Empty return. The empty container is returned to the terminal or to an empty depot named by the shipping line, ideally before per-diem (detention) charges start.
For exports the sequence runs in reverse: the empty is picked up, loaded at the shipper and delivered to the terminal before the vessel or rail cut-off.
Types of drayage
| Type | What it means | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Port drayage | Terminal to warehouse, or warehouse to terminal | Import and export containers at coastal ports |
| Rail (intermodal) drayage | Inland rail ramp to customer | Containers that travelled by rail from Vancouver, Prince Rupert, Montreal or Halifax |
| Pier drayage | Between a rail yard and a marine terminal | Containers transferring from rail to vessel |
| Cross-town / inter-carrier | Between two terminals or two carriers' yards | Changing railroads or terminals |
| Shuttle drayage | To a nearby yard for temporary storage | Avoiding terminal storage when a warehouse is full |
| Door-to-door | Full move including the drayage legs | Shippers who want one provider for the whole trip |
| Expedited | Priority pick-up | Hot freight or boxes close to the end of free time |
Special equipment and cargo
Not every carrier can move every container. Before you book, confirm the carrier handles your equipment:
- Reefer (refrigerated) containers need gensets and drivers who monitor temperature.
- Hazardous materials require TDG-trained drivers and correct placarding.
- Overweight containers may need a tri-axle or quad-axle chassis to stay within provincial axle limits.
- Flat racks, open tops and out-of-gauge cargo need special handling and sometimes permits.
- ISO tanks need carriers set up for tank chassis.
Each company profile in our drayage directory shows which of these capabilities the carrier supports. Musket Transport (Toronto), Harbour Link Container Services (Vancouver) and Avantus Intermodal (Calgary/Edmonton) are examples of listed carriers with reefer, hazmat and out-of-gauge capability.
What does drayage cost in Canada?
There is no single rate card, because each move depends on the lane and the terminal. The main cost components are:
| Cost component | What drives it |
|---|---|
| Base line-haul rate | Distance between the terminal and the delivery address |
| Fuel surcharge | Diesel price, usually a percentage of the base rate |
| Chassis | Daily chassis rental, if the carrier doesn't own chassis |
| Waiting time | Time spent at the terminal or at your dock beyond the free window |
| Pre-pull and yard storage | Pulling a box early to beat terminal storage or a vessel cut-off |
| Overweight / tri-axle | Heavy containers needing special chassis |
| Hazmat, reefer, out-of-gauge | Special equipment and handling |
The accessorial charges often matter more than the base rate. Ask every carrier for a written quote that lists free waiting time, the hourly rate after that, and chassis and storage fees.
Drayage vs. other trucking
- Drayage vs. FTL trucking: full-truckload carriers pull their own trailers over long distances. Drayage carriers pull ocean containers on chassis and work to terminal appointments.
- Drayage vs. intermodal: intermodal is the whole multi-mode journey (ship + rail + truck). Drayage is the truck part of it.
- Drayage vs. transloading: transloading moves the cargo out of the ocean container into a domestic trailer or 53' container. Drayage moves the container itself.
Why drayage causes most container delays
Most container problems happen at the terminal gate: missed appointments, holds, rail congestion or containers left too long on terminal. Each day past free time can add storage charges from the terminal and per-diem charges from the shipping line. A good drayage partner watches release status, books appointments early and tells you before costs start to pile up. Our guide to container storage and demurrage fees in Canada explains these charges in detail.
How to choose a drayage carrier
- Coverage: Do they serve your terminal and your delivery area? Check the carrier's cities in our directory by city, from Montreal to Halifax.
- Equipment: Do they own chassis, and can they handle reefer, hazmat or heavy boxes?
- Insurance and authority: Ask for cargo insurance limits and the carrier's safety record.
- Communication: Will you get container tracking, proof of delivery and early warnings about holds?
- Transparent accessorials: Get the waiting-time, storage and chassis charges in writing.
Frequently asked questions
What is drayage in simple terms?
Drayage is the short truck move that takes a shipping container from a port or rail terminal to a warehouse, or from a warehouse back to the terminal.
How far is a drayage move?
Most drayage moves are local or regional, usually within 100–150 km of the port or rail terminal. Longer truck moves are normally priced as regional or long-haul trucking.
Who pays for drayage?
It depends on the Incoterms of the sale. Under FOB or EXW the buyer usually arranges destination drayage; under DAP or DDP the seller arranges delivery to the buyer's door.
What is the difference between drayage and demurrage?
Drayage is the trucking service. Demurrage is a charge from the shipping line or terminal when a full container stays on terminal longer than the free time allowed.
How do I find a drayage company in Canada?
Use the ContainerIntermodal.ca directory to compare verified drayage carriers by city and equipment, then request quotes from several providers at once.