Drayage Services

Drayage involves transporting freight across short distances. This typically involves truck transportation, with the vehicle taking the freight to a nearby port, rail yard, or warehousing/distribution facility. Although the distance involved in drayage transportation can be short in miles, drayage services play a key role in logistics and in keeping the supply chain efficiently moving along.

Companies that offer quality drayage services (like NXTPoint Logistics) know that planning serves as the foundation of services being provided. Our experts consider the schedule involved with each particular drayage delivery, which can include time-sensitive cargo requiring expedited services. We keep origin and destination points in mind, which include port/plane/railway schedules, as we choose the optimal carrier and schedule the cargo transportation. We then pick up the cargo, deliver, and unload it appropriately. Throughout the process, our drayage company manages the paperwork and keeps everything on track.

Drayage companies specialize in short-distance transportation of cargo, typically moving goods between ports, rail yards, and warehouses as part of the logistics and supply chain process.

More specifically, we offer the following drayage services:

• Pier drayage: Transport from warehouse to ocean shipping docks
• Shuttle drayage for temporary storage when origin hubs are too crowded
• Expedited drayage: Ideal for time-sensitive cargo

NXTPoint provides full truckload and less-than-truckload (LTL) services; warehousing and distribution; air, ocean, and rail freight forwarding; and chassis and long-haul drayage management. Reach out to our drayage company to consult with an expert about your needs.

Freight refers to cargo that needs to be shipped. Drayage refers to the act of moving freight from one location to another, typically over short distances, such as from a cargo ship to a warehouse. 

The terms can be used fairly interchangeably. Technically, cartage—which also refers to short-distance transport by land as part of the supply chain—focuses on delivering cargo or goods within a port, to Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZs), or to nearby final destinations.

Drayage uses one form of transport, typically trucks, to transport goods over a short distance along the supply chain. Intermodal shipping uses multiple forms of transport (which could be ships, trains, planes, and trucks) over both short and long distances, depending upon supply chain requirements. Drayage is often a component of an intermodal transportation plan.

Numerous factors play a role in the cost of drayage services, and there’s no one-size-fits-all average. For example, the weight of the shipment makes a difference, as does the size of the required containers; whether your company will use full truckload or LTL transport; and the origin and destination points for the drayage company. Expedited drayage comes with additional costs, such as tolls, chassis fees, and so forth.

If you’re interested in a quote for drayage services, please connect with us.

Top benefits of quality drayage services include how it enhances both efficiency and cost-effectiveness for supply chains. When working with a drayage company, businesses can greatly reduce downtime and bottlenecks, accelerating and streamlining thesupply chain. Our proprietary technology allows us to optimize routes, avoid traffic jams, and prevent delivery delays. 

As cargo is smoothly forwarded through drayage, this significantly lowers port and rail yard time and can eliminate costly demurrage fees. NXTPoint leverages the power of our significant network to take advantage of economies of scale, and we’re able to pass savings onto your company. Our in-depth network also fuels our freight brokerage services in the drayage space, seamlessly pairing shippers with demand and carriers with capacity. Furthermore, our technology facilitates real-time tracking, which allows full visibility into transportation progress and gives your company the ability to make better decisions. 

NXTPoint specializes in transporting oversized cargo and providing expedited drayage services whenever they’re needed, ensuring compliance as we transport goods.

Technology will continue to become more advanced, amplifying many of the benefits described in the FAQ above. Enhanced cybersecurity will further increase confidence in these technological tools. 

The ongoing development of autonomous trucks and associated regulations is worth watching. Pilot programs for autonomous trucking are taking place in select states, but the United States still needs to formulate a national approach to this issue. Then, the industry will need to proactively move ahead to maximize human resource talent in this evolving environment. What else is worth monitoring: the direction of government mandates on fuel emissions and sustainability initiatives. 

All hands will need to be on deck as the global drayage market continues to grow. Reporting shows a value of $27 billion USD in 2024, with a projection of $30.5 billion in 2030, which is a CAGR growth of 2.1 percent. To learn more about NXTPoint’s forward-thinking drayage services, connect with us today!

We leverage more than a century of expertise in transportation solutions, with a wide range of services, including pier, shuttle, and expedited drayage, along with door-to-door delivery to nearby retail customers.

NXTPoint leverages extensive resources that are typically expected from larger logistics companies while providing the adaptable, personalized service that you would receive from a smaller logistics firm. Our world-class technology allows you to stay informed about the progress of your cargo, with regular check-ins at key points. This provides your company with peace of mind and assurance that all is progressing as planned. 

When you choose NXTPoint as your drayage company, you also benefit from our owned and operated warehousing and distribution centers, helping you to stay competitive in tough markets. You’ll receive efficient, cost-effective, adaptable solutions with no volume guarantees or long-term commitments required. 

To discuss your unique needs with our expert drayage services team, reach out today for a consultation.