What Is Drayage in Trucking?
Also called: Dray, Container Drayage, Port Drayage
Drayage is moving freight by truck over a short distance, most often a container between a port or rail yard and a nearby warehouse. FHWA defines it as hauling rail or ocean freight by truck to an intermediate or final destination. Drayage drivers pick up and drop containers, so waiting time and appointments matter as much as the miles.
Last reviewed September 23, 2026 · Facts checked October 16, 2026
Key Points
- FHWA defines drayage as moving rail or ocean freight by truck to an intermediate or final destination, usually over a short distance
- Drayage is the truck leg of an intermodal trip. A typical move is a container from a port or rail yard to a warehouse, and back empty
- Drivers often need a TWIC to enter secure areas of a marine terminal. The Maritime Transportation Security Act requires it for unescorted access
- To pick up equipment from an equipment provider, a motor carrier usually joins the Uniform Intermodal Interchange Agreement (UIIA), which IANA runs
- Pay is usually by the load, so long waits at the terminal cut your pay per hour. Ask how waiting time is paid before you sign
- Ports and states can add rules, such as truck registries, appointments and emissions rules. Check the port you will serve
What is drayage?
Drayage is a short truck move that links one part of a longer shipment to the next. FHWA's freight glossary defines it as transporting rail or ocean freight by truck to an intermediate or final destination, usually a short distance, for example from a marine terminal to a warehouse. A shipping container arrives at a port or rail yard. A drayage truck picks it up on a chassis and delivers it to the customer. After it is unloaded, the driver returns the empty container. The word covers the move and the charge for it.
How does a drayage move work?
The driver gets a pickup order with the container number, the terminal and a time window. At the terminal, the driver checks in, often with an appointment, and picks up the container on a chassis. The driver delivers it to the customer, waits while it is loaded or unloaded, and then takes the empty container back to the right yard. Containers have a limited free time. If they are held too long or returned late, extra charges can apply. Check who pays those charges in your agreement.
What do you need to do drayage?
You need the same basics as other truck work: a CDL for your truck, insurance and operating authority if you haul for hire. For port work, you will probably need a TWIC to enter secure areas of marine terminals. To pick up containers and chassis from equipment providers, you usually need to join the UIIA, which requires insurance with a UIIE-1 endorsement, plus a yearly fee. Some ports and states also have truck registries or emissions rules. Ask the carrier or the port what applies.
How are drayage drivers paid?
Most drayage pay is by the load or the move, not by the mile, because the trips are short. That makes time the key. A driver who waits two hours at a terminal earns the same per load as one who waits twenty minutes. Ask how waiting time is paid, who covers chassis and terminal fees, and whether fuel is paid by the carrier. Our cost per mile and earnings tools can help you compare a short-haul load with a long-haul one.
Is drayage the same as intermodal?
No. Intermodal is the whole trip, which uses more than one mode of transport, such as ship, rail and truck. Drayage is the truck leg of that trip. FHWA describes intermodal as using more than one mode to move goods, with a truck-to-rail handoff at a terminal as an example. A drayage driver handles the stretch between the terminal and the customer.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is drayage in trucking?+
Drayage is moving freight by truck over a short distance as part of a longer trip, most often a container between a port or rail yard and a nearby warehouse. FHWA defines it as hauling rail or ocean freight by truck to an intermediate or final destination.
How does drayage work?+
A driver gets an order with the container number and terminal, picks up the container on a chassis, delivers it to the customer, waits while it is loaded or unloaded, and then returns the empty container to the right yard.
Is drayage the same as intermodal?+
No. Intermodal is the whole trip, using more than one mode such as ship, rail and truck. Drayage is the truck leg of that trip between the terminal and the customer.
How much do drayage drivers make?+
It varies by port, carrier and how many loads a driver can complete in a day. Pay is usually by the load, so waiting time matters. Compare offers by working out pay per hour as well as per load.
Do you need a TWIC card to do drayage?+
Usually yes for marine terminals. The Maritime Transportation Security Act requires a TWIC for unescorted access to secure areas of maritime facilities. Check with the terminal and the U.S. Coast Guard about the rules for the facility you serve.
How do I find drayage loads?+
Most drayage work comes through drayage carriers, brokers and shippers that serve a port or rail yard. You need the basics in place first, such as authority, insurance, a TWIC and UIIA participation. Then ask carriers and brokers near the port how they use owner-operators.
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This is industry terminology and typical practice. It is not legal or tax advice. Rates, fees, and rules mentioned are general ranges. Confirm the details on your rate confirmation, carrier agreement, or a current official source.