The term drayage refers to a logistical service that carries goods over short distances. It usually forms part of a longer supply chain and uses rail and road as transportation modes. As a flexible and cost-effective part of the logistics industry, drayage plays a vital role in product transportation.
How Does Drayage Work?
Drayage services move containers in and out of ocean ports, rail yards, and loading docks and usually remain within a single metropolitan area. Before choosing a drayage service, it’s essential to understand the different types of services and how each can help your business.
Pier Drayage
If you need to move goods from a warehouse or rail terminal to a pier or an ocean dock, pier drayage services can transport your containers using the road network.
Shuttle Drayage
The port where your goods will depart may be busy or inaccessible and cause delays due to inclement weather, overcrowding, and a host of other reasons. In this situation, shuttle drayage can transport your goods to a temporary storing point.
Inter Carrier Drayage
This method of drayage involves moving goods from one type of carrier to another. For example, inter carrier drayage services may move goods from a rail terminal to a trucking terminal or an air freight carrier.
Intra Carrier Drayage
Intra Carrier drayage occurs when you need to move goods between hubs operated by the same carrier. This system can be useful when transporting multiple loads that need to go to different destinations.
Expedited Drayage
This kind of intermodal drayage is ideal for moving time-sensitive items, such as perishable goods. Without a quick mode of transportation, food, and medication can expire.
Door-to-Door Drayage
Retailers often expect suppliers to deliver the goods to their door. This form of drayage involves moving goods by truck to their final destination.
Why is Drayage Important?
The shipping industry could not function without drayage services. Most supply routes involve multiple types of transportation to get goods to their final destination. Without drayage, containers would reach a point in that journey and then remain at an intermodal terminal, port, or airport.
Drayage connects the other, longer links of the freight transportation chain. Drayage steps into the gaps between different modes of transport and so the transportation industry keeps moving.
In Conclusion
Shipping and air freight services are commonly hailed as transportation heroes, but drayage services are integral to the transportation industry. Without the ability to transport containers over short distances cost-effectively and efficiently, the supply chain breaks down.
A good freight forwarder has well-established connections throughout the supply chain and knows the importance of a reliable drayage service. For a consultation or to request a quote contact Asiana USA at (833) 444-1333
