Container Drayage at the Ports of LA/Long Beach: Imports and Exports
Container drayage is the trucking of an ocean container between a port terminal and a nearby facility. Whisk Freight Brokerage arranges import and export drayage at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, delivered direct to shippers or to a warehouse in Carson for transload.
Where We Arrange Drayage
- Southern California Los Angeles, Orange County, the Inland Empire, San Diego and everywhere in between. Same-day delivery is available within a 90-mile radius of the port.
- Northern California LA/Long Beach to Northern California, direct or transloaded onto a 53-foot trailer in Carson.
- Nevada, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico Las Vegas and Reno, Phoenix and Tucson, Salt Lake City and Albuquerque, direct or transloaded onto a 53-foot trailer in Carson.
Shaded: the service zone. Orange lines: routes from the ports. Square: the Carson warehouse, 5 miles from the Port of Long Beach.
Imports and Exports, One Service
We arrange import and export container drayage through the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Imports are planned around the terminal’s last free day and the ocean carrier’s deadline for empty return; exports are scheduled within the booking’s receiving window and before the cargo cutoff.
Imports: Terminal to Empty Return
Availability and Holds
Before dispatch we confirm the container is available, the freight is released, and there are no customs, line or terminal holds.
Appointment
We manage the terminal appointment so the container is set to pick up as soon as port appointments become available.
Chassis
The carrier supplies a chassis matched to the container size, and a tri-axle when the weight calls for it. Chassis types.
Last Free Day
Pickup is planned against the last free day (LFD), so the container leaves the terminal before demurrage starts.
Delivery
To your door for a live unload or a drop, or to the warehouse in Carson for transload or storage.
Empty Return
The empty goes back to the terminal or depot the line assigns, inside the free time, so per diem does not run up.
Exports: Booking to Vessel
Booking and Release
We start from the booking number and the steamship line's release, and check the equipment type, pickup depot and return terminal before anything is dispatched.
Empty Pickup
The carrier pulls the empty in the size and type the booking calls for, and the box is checked before it goes to your dock.
ERD and Cargo Cutoff
The loaded return is planned between the earliest return date (ERD) and the cargo cutoff, so the container is not turned away early or left behind late.
VGM and Documentation
We confirm the verified gross mass (VGM) and the shipping instructions (SI) are submitted before their cutoffs, because a container without them does not get loaded onto the vessel. VGM calculator.
Loaded Return
The loaded container goes back to the terminal and vessel on the booking and we confirm it is on the booked vessel.
Rolled Bookings
If the ocean carrier moves your booking to a later vessel, we adjust the schedule to the new earliest receiving date (ERD) and cargo cutoff, confirm any free-time adjustments with the carrier and update you on delivery timing.
LA/Long Beach Container Terminals
Select a terminal on the map to open its row in the LA/Long Beach terminal directory, with the ocean carriers listed there; dwell times and volumes are on LA/Long Beach Port Facts and Figures.
Scroll sideways to see the whole harbor.
Container Drayage FAQ
What is container drayage?
Container drayage is the short-distance trucking of an ocean container between a port terminal and a nearby warehouse or customer facility. At the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, drayage covers the terminal appointment, a chassis, delivery for a live unload or a drop, and the empty return to the terminal or depot.
What is the last free day for a container?
The last free day (LFD) is the final day of the applicable free-time period. For demurrage, it is the deadline to pick up the loaded import container from the terminal. For per diem, it is the deadline to return the empty container to the ocean carrier’s designated terminal or depot. We confirm both deadlines and plan pickup and empty return accordingly, after checking container availability, freight release and any customs, line or terminal holds.
What is the difference between demurrage and per diem?
Demurrage is charged while a loaded import container stays at the terminal past its free time. Detention, which a steamship line tariff and the UIIA also call per diem, is charged when the container is not returned to the terminal before free time expires. Those are separate bills. We plan pickups against the last free day and return empties within the line's free time. Demurrage, Detention and Per Diem explains who bills each charge, and Per Diem and Demurrage Charges Decoded separates the bills.
Do you arrange export drayage?
Yes. Each export is planned against the steamship line's booking: the empty pickup on the release, the loaded return between the earliest return date (ERD) and the cargo cutoff, and a check that the VGM and shipping instructions are filed. After the return, we confirm the container is on the booked vessel.
Should a container be delivered direct or transloaded?
Direct delivery takes the container from the terminal to your facility for a live unload or a drop. Transloading moves the freight into 53-foot trailers at a warehouse in Carson, 5 miles from the Port of Long Beach, allowing the empty container to be returned sooner. Freight can move from one container into one trailer or, when cargo volume, weight and loading requirements allow, from three containers into two trailers. Consolidation can reduce the number of trucks needed for delivery to Northern California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico.
Which LA/Long Beach terminals and container sizes do you handle?
We arrange drayage at the container terminals in the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, including PCT, ITS, Pier A, Matson, YTI, TTI, LBCT, APM, Everport, WBCT, FMS and TraPac, for 20-foot, 40-foot standard, 40-foot high cube and 45-foot containers. Include the terminal and size with the quote request.
What We Need to Quote
Send the details available for your shipment. A loading or delivery ZIP code is enough to start; include the full address when available.
For all shipments
- Import or export, port or terminal, and ocean carrier if known.
- Number of containers and sizes: 20', 40' Standard, 40' High Cube or 45'. For recurring shipments, include expected containers per month.
- Commodity and cargo weight per container, stated in pounds or kilograms. Specify whether the weight includes the container itself.
- Live loading or unloading, or drop-and-pick; expected loading or unloading time or drop duration; and facility hours or appointment requirements.
- Any anticipated pre-pull, yard storage or special equipment needs. Identify any cargo requiring special handling so we can confirm suitability.
Imports
- Vessel name, estimated arrival date, delivery address or ZIP code, and requested delivery date.
- If the container has already arrived at the port, include its availability status, last free day and any known customs or ocean-carrier holds.
Exports
- Loading address or ZIP code, cargo-ready date and requested empty-container delivery date.
- Include the booking number, vessel, empty-pickup location, earliest return date and the terminal’s deadline for receiving the loaded container, if available.