Port drayage — the short-haul move of a container between the marine terminal and a nearby warehouse or rail ramp — is where many import supply chains quietly succeed or fail. At the Port of New York and New Jersey, the busiest gateway on the US East Coast, getting drayage right means understanding a few moving parts.
What is port drayage?
Drayage is the first (or last) leg of an ocean shipment’s inland journey. After a container is discharged from the vessel at Newark or Elizabeth, a licensed motor carrier picks it up on a chassis and moves it to a warehouse, transload facility or rail ramp — usually within the same metro area.
Why NY/NJ drayage is different
Volume and congestion make the NY/NJ gateway uniquely demanding. Terminal appointments, chassis availability and gate hours all affect whether your box moves on time. A missed appointment can cascade into extra days of storage.
LFD and per-diem: the two clocks that cost money
- Last Free Day (LFD) — the deadline to pick your container up from the terminal before demurrage charges start.
- Per-diem — the daily charge once you hold the carrier’s container/chassis beyond the free time after pickup.
Both clocks run fast. Proactive appointment and return management is the difference between a clean invoice and hundreds in avoidable fees.
How to avoid drayage headaches
- Pre-book terminal appointments as soon as the container is available.
- Confirm chassis supply before the pickup window.
- Track LFD and per-diem on every container.
- Use a drayage partner that runs its own warehouses and can transload quickly.
Prime Cargo People handles Newark/Elizabeth drayage with LFD, per-diem and appointment management built in — backed by 18 US warehouses for fast transload.