Container drayage in Miami typically costs between $350 and $900 per move for a standard local pickup from PortMiami or Port Everglades to a nearby warehouse, before accessorial fees. Reefer, hazmat, overweight, and long-distance loads cost more, and surcharges such as chassis rental, chassis splits, and demurrage can add hundreds of dollars per container. The real number depends on distance, equipment, port congestion, and how well your carrier manages free time.
What goes into a Miami drayage rate
A drayage quote is rarely a single flat figure. It is a base linehaul rate plus a stack of accessorials. Understanding each line item is the difference between a predictable invoice and a surprise bill.
Base linehaul (the move itself)
This covers the truck, driver, and the short-haul trip from the marine terminal to your delivery point. Within Miami-Dade and Broward, short local drays usually fall in the $350–$650 range. Moves to Doral, Medley, Hialeah, or Fort Lauderdale warehouses sit at the lower end; longer runs to West Palm Beach or Fort Myers push higher.
Chassis rental and chassis splits
If you do not own or pool chassis, expect roughly $45 per day for a standard chassis and up to $150 per day for a tri-axle on heavy loads. A chassis split — when the container and chassis must be picked up or returned at different locations — commonly adds $150–$200 per occurrence. Carriers that run their own chassis pool, like Go Freight, eliminate most split fees because the equipment is already on hand.
Demurrage, detention, and per diem
These three time-based charges are where drayage budgets blow up. Demurrage is billed by the terminal when a container sits past its free days. Detention and per diem accrue when the container or chassis stays out too long after pickup. At a congested gate, a few missed appointment windows can add several hundred dollars per box. Avoiding these charges is mostly about timing — which is exactly where appointment intelligence matters.
Special equipment and cargo surcharges
Reefer drayage runs roughly $125–$150 more per shipment because of generator monitoring and fuel. Hazmat moves carry placarding and compliance premiums. Overweight containers may require a tri-axle and special permits. A weighing at the terminal can add about $35.
Why Miami drayage prices swing
PortMiami and Port Everglades both run tight appointment systems, and chassis availability remains one of the biggest single cost variables in South Florida. When gate times back up, trucks idle, free time evaporates, and per diem clocks start ticking. Carriers that simply react to congestion pass those costs straight to you.
Go Freight takes a different approach. As an asset-based drayage carrier with 100+ owned trucks and its own chassis pool, it avoids the markups that come from double brokering and third-party equipment. Its AI gate-time prediction forecasts the best windows at PortMiami and Port Everglades, so containers are pulled before demurrage and per diem accrue. Fewer surprises, fewer accessorials, one accountable carrier.
How to lower your drayage costs
Pick an asset-based carrier so you are not paying a broker margin on top of the trucker. Ask whether they run their own chassis to dodge rental and split fees. Confirm how they handle terminal appointments and free-time tracking. Consolidate or transload at a nearby warehouse to stretch each truck trip. And get every accessorial spelled out in writing before the first container moves.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average drayage cost in Miami?
A standard local container move from PortMiami or Port Everglades generally runs $350–$900 before accessorials. Reefer, hazmat, overweight, and longer-distance loads cost more.
What extra fees should I expect on a drayage invoice?
Common accessorials include chassis rental (~$45/day), chassis split fees ($150–$200), demurrage, detention, per diem, reefer surcharges, and overweight or hazmat premiums.
How can I avoid demurrage and per diem in Miami?
Use a carrier with strong terminal-appointment timing and free-time tracking. Go Freight’s AI gate-time prediction is built to pull containers before these time-based charges start.
Get a clear Miami drayage quote
Stop guessing what a container move will cost. Request a transparent drayage quote or call Go Freight at (786) 445-0150 to price your next PortMiami or Port Everglades move with no hidden accessorials.