How to Choose a Drayage Company at PortMiami: 8 Questions to Ask

The drayage company you choose controls whether your container leaves the terminal on day one or day four. Here is exactly what to look for, what questions to ask, and the red flags that will cost you money.

Why Your Drayage Carrier Choice Is a Business Decision, Not a Commodity Purchase

Most importers treat drayage like a utility — whoever picks up the phone and quotes the lowest rate gets the load. That approach works until it does not. And at PortMiami, where free time is 4 to 5 days and demurrage runs 50 to 50 per container per day, a carrier that misses the appointment window by 24 hours can cost more in fees than the drayage itself.

The right drayage carrier at PortMiami is not just a truck driver. It is a company with terminal access, chassis assets, regulatory compliance, and operational systems that can actually execute a pickup on time, every time.

The 5 Things That Actually Determine Drayage Performance at PortMiami

1. Asset ownership vs. brokered capacity

There are two types of drayage providers at PortMiami: asset-based carriers (who own their trucks and chassis) and brokers (who arrange carriers but own nothing). Asset-based carriers have direct control over pickup timing, driver allocation, and equipment availability. Brokers are dependent on their carrier network, which introduces variability you cannot predict or manage.

For time-sensitive port pickups, asset-based is almost always the right call. Ask directly: how many company trucks and chassis does the carrier own? If they cannot give you a specific number, they are a broker.

2. Chassis ownership and pool access

Chassis shortages at PortMiami are a documented, recurring problem. Carriers that depend exclusively on pool chassis (DCLI, TRAC) face delays during peak weeks that are completely outside their control. Carriers that own chassis can pre-stage equipment before your vessel arrives and execute the pickup regardless of pool availability.

Ask specifically: do you own chassis, or do you rely on pool? If they rely on pool, ask how they handle shortages. A vague answer is a red flag.

3. Terminal-specific experience and appointment system access

Each PortMiami terminal operates differently. Seaboard Marine uses NAVIS and eModal. POMTOC has its own system. A carrier with deep PortMiami experience knows which terminals have which quirks, which appointment slots fill fastest, and how to escalate when there is a system issue. This institutional knowledge translates directly to on-time pickups.

Ask how many containers per week the carrier moves through each specific terminal you use. Volume indicates familiarity.

4. Compliance and certification stack

Port drayage is one of the most heavily regulated segments of trucking. Your carrier should hold all of the following:

• FMCSA Motor Carrier Authority — basic requirement to operate
• TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential) — required for all drivers with port access
• C-TPAT participation — Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, required by many importers and BCOs
• TSA bonded carrier status — required if you move in-bond freight to avoid demurrage on CBP holds
• Hazmat CDL endorsement — required if any of your freight is classified hazardous

Ask for their MC number, TWIC confirmation, and C-TPAT certificate of participation. Any hesitation should give you pause.

5. Communication and tracking systems

A carrier that cannot give you real-time container status is a liability. You should be able to know at any moment whether your container has been picked up, is in transit, or has been delivered. This requires either a customer portal or consistent proactive communication. Ask what their tracking system looks like and request a demo or sample update before committing volume.

8 Questions to Ask Every Drayage Carrier Before Committing

1. How many company trucks and owned chassis do you operate? (Pins down asset ownership immediately)
2. How many containers per week do you move through PortMiami? (Volume indicates terminal familiarity)
3. What is your on-time pickup rate for import containers in free time? (Ask for a specific percentage — vague answers mean they are not tracking it)
4. What happens when a chassis is unavailable on pickup day? (Tests their contingency planning)
5. Are you TSA bonded? Can you show the certification? (Critical for in-bond moves)
6. Who is my dedicated point of contact when there is a problem? (Tests operational accountability)
7. What does your SLA say about demurrage caused by your operational failures? (Tests whether they stand behind their service)
8. What tracking or visibility do I have on my containers? (Tests technology investment)

5 Red Flags to Walk Away From

1. They cannot give you a specific truck and chassis count. If they say something like “we have access to a large network,” they are a broker, not an asset carrier. Walk away if you need reliability.
2. No mention of TWIC or port authority access. Drivers without TWIC cannot enter the port unescorted. A carrier that glosses over this detail does not operate at ports regularly.
3. They quote without asking about your cargo type. A carrier who does not ask whether you have hazmat, reefer, or overweight freight is not thinking about your specific requirements. They are just chasing the rate.
4. No SLA or demurrage policy. If a carrier cannot explain their policy on demurrage caused by their delays, they have never been held accountable for one. That means you will pay for their failures.
5. Communication only via email or voicemail. Port freight moves fast. A carrier with no real-time communication capability will lose you money on the first busy day.

Asset-Based vs. Brokered: The True Cost Comparison

Brokered drayage often quotes 10 to 20 dollars lower per move. Here is the math on why that is almost never worth it on port freight:

• One day of demurrage at PortMiami: 50 to 50
• One missed rail cut (if intermodal): 24 to 48 hour delay, plus rail ramp storage fees
• One driver no-show on peak season Friday: potentially a full weekend of free time burned

A 0 savings per move that leads to one demurrage incident per 10 moves nets you negative 30 per move on average. The math strongly favors paying slightly more for a carrier with owned assets and a documented track record.

What Go Freight AI Brings to Every Drayage Move at PortMiami

• 100+ company trucks and an owned chassis pool staged at PortMiami and Port Everglades
• TWIC, C-TPAT, TSA bonded, and FMCSA compliant on every driver and every move
• DispatchAI platform with real-time GPS tracking and container status updates
• 7-day vessel ETA monitoring with pre-assigned drivers before your ship docks
• Written demurrage SLA — if we cause the delay, we cover the fee
• Dedicated ops contact for every account, not a call center rotation

Frequently Asked Questions