Drayage at Port Everglades is the short-distance trucking that moves ocean containers from the marine terminal to a nearby warehouse, rail ramp, or distribution center. After a vessel is discharged, a drayage carrier picks up your container on a chassis, hauls it out of the terminal, and delivers it—then returns the empty. It sounds simple, but appointments, chassis availability, and free-time deadlines make timing everything at a busy South Florida gateway.
The step-by-step drayage process
First, the vessel is discharged and your container is staged in the terminal yard. Once customs releases the freight and the line issues a pickup, the drayage carrier books a terminal appointment. A driver arrives, mounts the container on a chassis, and exits the gate. The container is delivered to your facility for live unload or dropped for later unloading, and the empty is returned to the designated terminal or depot.
Live load vs drop-and-pick
There are two common delivery styles. In a live load, the driver waits while your team unloads, then takes the empty back the same trip. In a drop-and-pick, the carrier leaves the loaded container at your dock and returns later for the empty, freeing the driver in the meantime. Drop programs need a chassis to stay with the box, which is easier when your carrier owns its chassis pool.
Why free time drives the schedule
The terminal grants a few free days before demurrage starts, and the line grants free days before detention starts on the equipment. Good drayage is really about beating those clocks—pulling the container early and returning the empty promptly. A carrier tracking your last-free-day dates keeps you out of both fees.
Port Everglades vs PortMiami drayage
The mechanics are the same at both ports, but terminal layouts, appointment systems, and traffic differ. Many South Florida importers use both gateways depending on the carrier and cargo—our PortMiami vs Port Everglades guide compares them. A drayage provider that covers both gives you routing flexibility. Go Freight runs 100+ owned trucks and its own chassis pool serving both Port Everglades and PortMiami, feeding a 104,000 sq ft bonded warehouse.
Frequently asked questions
How far does drayage typically cover?
Drayage is short-haul by definition—usually within the local metro area, from the terminal to a nearby warehouse, rail ramp, or transload facility. Longer moves become regional trucking or intermodal rather than drayage.
Do I need my own chassis for drayage?
No. The drayage carrier supplies the chassis, either from a shared pool or its own fleet. Carriers with their own chassis pool avoid the split fees and shortages that can delay pickups.
What causes drayage delays at Port Everglades?
The usual causes are customs holds, unpaid freight, chassis shortages, terminal appointment congestion, and late pickup scheduling. Pre-clearing customs and booking early prevents most of them.
Drayage that beats the clock
Go Freight’s asset-based fleet and owned chassis pool move your Port Everglades containers fast and return empties on time. Request a free quote or call (786) 445-0150.