Drayage Freight Shipping Services

Streamline Your First and Last Mile Transport

 

 

Drayage is an often overlooked contributor to overall supply chain efficiency. A drayage carrier bridges the gaps between intermodal forms of transport, ie. the short-distance road portion of a shipment’s movement between customer facilities, distribution centers, inland rail hubs and marine terminals – perhaps not the spiciest conversation topic at parties, but absolutely critical to successful supply chain management.

There are several types of drayage (at least six, maybe more depending on who you ask), but each serves the broader purpose of linking rail, sea and road transport together while preserving the freight’s security and safe handling throughout its intermodal journey. Individual drayage types refer more specifically to the unique origins and destinations of the freight. Short-distance hauls from a loading dock to a warehouse or from a rail car to a trucking hub each fall under the drayage umbrella.

Managing drayage services naturally includes a host of logistical variables, which can be more easily navigated by a 3PL partner with more than a decade of experience in this unique mode. First Call’s trusted carrier network and continued investment in logistical tools and technology have our team primed to handle any of your drayage needs.

Benefits of Drayage Shipping with First Call:

  • Full supply chain visibility, both for peace of mind and to identify potential for further optimizing shipping speeds through intermodal transportation.
  • Established relationship with a team experienced in drayage and unique logistical challenges.
  • Access to our always-growing network of reliable intermodal carriers.

Drayage Frequently Asked Questions:

K
L

How does drayage work?

Moving freight across great distances frequently calls for multiple modes of transport. Short-distance transport from a port to rail car, warehouse or distribution center (or from any one of these to any other) keeps these products on the move – these small “links” in the supply chain taking freight from one major mode of transportation to another are referred to as drayage.

K
L

What does drayage include?

The term is often shorthand for shipping freight a short distance (1-2 hours max) via standard ground transport.

K
L

Why should I care about drayage?

Drayage represents a pivotal piece of the supply chain for any industry in the business of delivering goods to customers. One study estimates the United States clears more than 60 million drayage movements per year with a total worth exceeding $50 billion. The global drayage market is also expected to grow by another $3 billion by 2025.

Simplify Your Next Shipment with First Call Logistics

Building and managing cost-efficient supply chains is a full-time job. First Call’s rare combination of in-house assets, expert problem-solving and track record of stellar customer service makes us the 3PL of choice for business partners with a wide range of shipping needs.

More Resources on Drayage Shipping:

Shipping Puzzle? We’ll solve it.
Or dial 1-866-730-1150

Testimonials

Solutions Built for Your Business

Resources

Insights to Move You Forward

Trends & Innovations in Final Mile Delivery Services

Trends & Innovations in Final Mile Delivery Services

Even with today’s best forecasting and routing tech, last-mile delivery (which often involves navigating densely populated urban areas, sitting in traffic and finding appropriate parking) reportedly accounts for more than half of the average company’s annual shipping...

read more
Make Your Peak Season a Success with the Right 3PL

Make Your Peak Season a Success with the Right 3PL

With last year’s holiday season accounting for more than $222 billion in sales, it’s hard to overstate the importance of peak season for both online and brick-and-mortar retailers. Retail’s peak season, spanning early October’s fall sales events to December’s...

read more
Strengthening Supply Chains with Decentralized Warehousing

Strengthening Supply Chains with Decentralized Warehousing

There’s no perfect formula for anticipating demand for your products. Instead, those working in logistics are tasked with balancing ebbs and flows in demand with dynamic supply chain challenges (both the regular kind and the global catastrophe kind). The right balance...

read more

Get the latest supply chain news and updates directly to your inbox.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.