International Drayage

International Drayage

International Drayage is defined as the transport of containerized cargo by trucking companies from ocean ports or rail yards to shipping docks or vice versa. They usually cover a shorter distance of travel.

There are several classifications of drayage services. Whatever service you select will depend on your shipping needs. The shipper needs to determine the type of drayage service that will best fit the cargo to complete the delivery. The following are different types of drayage classifications:

• Expedited drayage: Freight containers are transported quickly. This best applies to time-sensitive shipments.

• Inter-carrier drayage: This is what comes to mind first when most people think of the word drayage. It involves the movement of goods between different carriers. As an example, inter-carrier drayage might involve transporting goods from a trucking terminal to a rail station.

• Intra-carrier drayage: Intra-carrier drayage involves taking freight to two different hubs owned by the same carrier. Cargo might be transported from an intermodal hub to a rail hub.

• Pier drayage: Do you need cargo to move from a rail terminal to an ocean shipping dock or pier? You might need pier drayage. This method uses highways to get freight to the pier.

• Shuttle drayage: Shuttle drayage involves moving an intermodal unit to a temporary stopping point. This method is used when the hub of origin might be overcrowded.

• Door-to-door: Delivery by truck of container to retail customer.

International drayage is done by using a container that sits on chassis. The containers are made of either steel or aluminum, ranging in sizes of 20-feet, 40-feet, 40-high, or 45-feet in length and between 6-8 feet in height. The following are the different types of containers:

· Standard dry containers – Most common type in the market used to carry dry goods.

· Reefer containers – They are basically a refrigerator used to carry goods needing to stay a certain temperature.

· Open-top containers – There is no top to this container and they are used to carry large items that will not fit in a regular shipping container.

· Flat rack containers – These containers are used for heavy loads. They are loaded from the top or sides, they only have sides on the short end of the container.

· Hard top containers – These containers have a detachable steel roof that allows for easy loading/unloading of specific cargo.

· Side door container – These containers have extra doors that open on the long side of the container in addition to the doors on the end. This makes it easier to load bulky items that won’t fit through the end doors.

· Double door containers – These containers have doors on both ends making it easy to load/unload and container quickly.

I hope this helps you understand what International Drayage is and the equipment used to make it all happen. From your logistics professionals at Genesis Consulting.

RB