What is the difference between demurrage and detention?

Demurrage is charged when a container stays at the terminal beyond the free-time period. Detention is charged when a container is out of the terminal but not returned by the deadline. Both are billed by the shipping line, separate from drayage.

How is chassis fee calculated at LALB?

At LA/LB, chassis fees are bundled into the drayage rate. At other ports chassis is a separate daily charge.

What information is needed to arrange drayage?

Container number, B/L number, shipping line, delivery address, unload type (live or drop and pick), preferred pickup date, and consignee contact details.

Los Angeles Drayage & Long Beach Port

Service Types

Full coverage at Port of Los Angeles (POLA) and Port of Long Beach (POLB) — all terminals, all container types

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Live Unload

Driver waits on-site while cargo is unloaded, then returns the container immediately. Best for warehouses with dock doors and adequate staff. Avoids ongoing chassis rental fees.

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Drop & Pick

Driver drops the loaded container at your facility, returns to pick up the empty. Ideal when you lack dock staff or need extra unloading time. Chassis fees apply per day.

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Specialty

Specialty Containers

Handles 20ft, 40ft standard, 40ft High Cube, 45ft containers. Reefer containers available with advance notice. Oversize/overweight cargo via flatbed or specialized equipment — contact for quote.

Coverage Map

From LA/LB ports, radiating across Southern California and the Central Valley

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Inland Empire

Covers Fontana, Ontario, Chino, Rancho Cucamonga, Riverside, San Bernardino — the largest warehouse cluster in the western US.

~50–80 miles

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LA County

Downtown LA, Vernon, Commerce, City of Industry, Torrance and surrounding industrial zones. Short-haul convenience.

~10–40 miles

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Orange County

Anaheim, Irvine, Santa Ana, Garden Grove, Fullerton, Brea and surrounds. Close proximity to port = competitive pricing.

~35–60 miles

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San Diego & Central Valley

San Diego and Chula Vista available. Central Valley cities (Fresno, Bakersfield, Stockton) via long-haul drayage — request quote in advance.

~100–250 miles

Transparent Drayage Pricing

Drayage costs include the following components — we disclose everything upfront, no hidden fees

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Base Drayage Rate

Calculated by destination ZIP code and container size. Covers port pickup to final delivery. Get an instant online quote.

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Fuel Surcharge (FSC)

Fuel surcharge floats with diesel prices. Current FSC ~45% (included in all quotes). Locked at time of quote.

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Chassis Fee

LA/LB chassis fees are included in quoted rates (LALB is the only port where chassis is bundled). Drop & Pick incurs daily chassis charges — noted in quotes.

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Port Surcharges

Terminal gate fees, clean truck surcharges, congestion fees — passed through at cost without markup. Fully itemized in your quote.

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Demurrage / Detention

Demurrage and detention beyond the shipping line's free time are billed by the carrier directly to the cargo owner — not part of drayage. We send reminders before free time expires.

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Drop & Pick Surcharge

Drop & pick incurs a surcharge on top of the base rate (~60% markup by default). Shown as a separate line item in your quote.

✅ All charges are shown at quote confirmation — no surprise invoices. Instant online quotes, no phone call required.

4-Step Drayage Process

Get a Quote

Enter port, destination ZIP, container size, and unload type. Instant quote including FSC, chassis, and port fees.

Confirm Booking

Provide container number, B/L number, delivery address, and time window. We dispatch a licensed drayage carrier.

Port Pickup

Driver retrieves container from the terminal under authorization. All gate procedures handled. Full status tracking available.

Delivery & Return

Live Unload: return container immediately after unloading. Drop & Pick: notify us when empty, driver retrieves and returns to yard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Demurrage: charged by the shipping line or port when a container stays at the terminal beyond the free-time period (typically $150–$400/day). Detention: charged when a container has been picked up but not returned to the yard within the allowed period. Both are billed directly by the shipping line, separate from drayage fees. We can remind you before free time expires so you can plan pickup accordingly.

At LALB, chassis fees are bundled into drayage rates — our LALB quotes already include chassis, no separate charge. At other ports (Savannah, NY/NJ, Chicago, etc.), chassis is a separate daily fee, typically $25–$50/day. For Drop & Pick, chassis fees accrue daily while the container sits at your facility and are listed as a separate line item in your quote.

We handle standard 20ft, 40ft, 40ft High Cube, and 45ft containers. Reefer containers can be arranged with at least 48 hours advance notice and power requirements specified — pricing varies. For open top, flat rack, or other out-of-gauge equipment, please contact us directly and we'll arrange the appropriate specialized chassis.

Book drayage 3–5 business days before vessel arrival. Free time is typically 3–5 days depending on the shipping line, and may be shorter during peak season. Best practices: ① Confirm the free-time start date (usually first available pickup day); ② Allow one buffer day; ③ Contact us promptly if port congestion causes delays. We can send proactive reminders when your free time is within 24–48 hours of expiring.

Live Unload has a lower base rate because the driver waits a limited time and returns the container immediately — no daily chassis fees. Requires sufficient dock staff to unload within 2–3 hours. Drop & Pick has a slightly higher base rate (~60% surcharge) but offers flexible unloading time — ideal when staffing is limited or unloading takes multiple days. Daily chassis fees are an added cost. Rule of thumb: efficient unloading → Live Unload; scheduling flexibility → Drop & Pick.

To confirm a drayage order we need: ① Container number; ② Bill of Lading (B/L) number; ③ Shipping line / SCAC code; ④ Full delivery address including ZIP code; ⑤ Unload type (Live Unload or Drop & Pick); ⑥ Preferred pickup date and time window; ⑦ Consignee contact name and phone. If cargo is temperature-sensitive, hazmat, or oversize/overweight, please advise in advance.

Los Angeles / Long Beach Port Drayage