The goods get moved by drayage services from the port of entry to storage or another transit means.
FREMONT, CA : Cross-continental container ships transport freight. Trucks and trains transport commodities within nations. Drayage usually refers to intermodal shipping. Intermodal transport uses standardized containers that can transfer from one mode to another without repacking. Drayage connects multimodal transit despite its short distance. It links trucks, railways, ships, and air freight to carry products across continents. Drayage is short-haul urban transit. It takes one shift, unlike long-haul shipping. Consider the more minor, intricate procedures that shift freight across transportation modes. Drayage in smaller national movements is essential to shipping logistics. Smaller market-specific businesses are also called drayage.
Drayage moves items from a central drop-off location to stores in shopping malls. Trucks carry cargo to the mall's main dock instead of each store's: mall staff sort and transport apparel, shoes, knick-knacks, and other products to stores. Drayage transports exhibitor products to a central warehouse before trade exhibits. They then deliver the supplies to each exhibitor booth. These small-scale examples may help explain drayage in the shipping business, but they differ from what most people mean. Drayage for container transportation typically starts at a port but can take several forms. It can include train yards and warehouses.
Drayage denotes transporting by a sideless automobile or cart. Horses pulled such carts. Dray horses limited heavy loads. Drayage always meant short-distance transit from a seaport to a railway or storage warehouse. Semi-trucks replace horses, but the premise remains. Drayage services move merchandise from the port of entry to storage or another mode of transit. The supply chain can only stall if the containerized cargo flows quickly from the port to the next mode of transport. Drayage is called "the first mile" because it impacts forward operations like the first domino.
Labor union politics, global trade difficulties, and consumer behavior change; more people are shopping online, causing the supply chain to back up. These ports also have drayage load difficulties. Drayage services issues at the complex include warehousing space, chassis, and rising transportation prices. Despite its tiny size, short-distance transport is essential to the supply chain. Drayage issues in major ports impact the supply chain and consumers. Both ocean ports have been overcrowded for years, stranding thousands of shipping containers. Like with all modes of transport, drayage is not risk-free. There could be complications with customs clearance, for instance.
While being a minor aspect of shipping, drayage services are essential. If there is an issue with drayage, the entire supply chain suffers. They must get "the first mile" right, guaranteeing proper drayage. There are many fees related to drayage, such as chassis split and drop fees. They incur costs when a truck collects shipping containers at the destination and again if storage is required. Sometimes, more carriers may be needed at the marine port when the consignment arrives.
