Port drayage explained Tacoma Seattle shippers need to know: it’s the truck move that gets your shipping container from a port terminal to your warehouse, distribution center, or facility. If you’re importing or exporting freight through the Port of Tacoma or Port of Seattle, drayage is the critical link between the vessel and your dock. This guide covers everything Tacoma and Seattle shippers need to know.
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Port Drayage Explained Tacoma Seattle — Terminal Guide
When a container ship arrives at the Port of Tacoma or Port of Seattle, thousands of containers are offloaded onto the terminal. Those containers don’t move themselves — a drayage truck picks them up and delivers them to their final destination.
The word “drayage” comes from the old English word for a low cart used to haul heavy loads. Today it refers specifically to short-distance container moves — typically under 100 miles — that connect port terminals to nearby warehouses and distribution centers.
How the Drayage Process Works Step by Step
Step 1 — Vessel Arrives
Your container arrives on a vessel at the Port of Tacoma or Port of Seattle. The terminal offloads it and it sits in the yard waiting for pickup. You have a limited window of free time — typically 3 to 5 days — before demurrage fees start.
Step 2 — Terminal Appointment Booked
Your drayage carrier books a terminal appointment through the port’s online system. Each terminal has specific appointment windows and requirements. An experienced carrier knows how to get appointments quickly and avoid delays.
Step 3 — Chassis Arranged
A chassis — the wheeled frame the container sits on — is sourced from the terminal chassis pool. Your carrier handles this. Chassis availability can affect pickup timing, especially during peak shipping seasons.
Step 4 — Container Picked Up
Your driver enters the terminal, presents documentation, picks up the container on the chassis, and exits. At busy terminals like Terminal 18 in Seattle or Northwest Container Services in Tacoma, this process can take 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on congestion.
Step 5 — Delivery to Your Facility
The driver delivers the container to your warehouse or distribution center. You unload it within the agreed free time window — typically 2 hours. The driver then returns the empty container and chassis to the terminal or a designated depot.
Types of Drayage Moves
Live Unload
The driver waits at your facility while you unload the container, then takes the empty back to the terminal. Best for operations with fast unloading capacity.
Drop and Pick
The driver drops the full container at your facility and leaves. You unload at your own pace. The driver returns later to pick up the empty. Best for facilities that need extra time to unload.
Transload Drayage
The container is delivered to a transload facility where cargo is transferred from the shipping container into a dry van or reefer trailer for last-mile delivery. Common for importers distributing to multiple locations.
Intermodal Drayage
Container moves between port terminals and rail yards — BNSF or UP — for long-distance inland transport. Common for freight heading to Eastern Washington, Idaho, or beyond.
What Is Demurrage and How Do You Avoid It?
Demurrage is the daily fee charged by the port when your container sits at the terminal past its free time. At the Port of Tacoma and Port of Seattle, demurrage typically starts at $150 per day and can escalate to $400+ per day on high-demand vessels.
The best way to avoid demurrage is simple: book your drayage carrier before your vessel arrives. A proactive carrier monitors ETAs and schedules pickup appointments in advance so your container moves before the clock runs out.
Port Drayage Explained — Tacoma vs Seattle Terminals
Both the Port of Tacoma and Port of Seattle handle millions of containers per year. Here’s what importers and exporters need to know about each:
Port of Tacoma Terminals
- Northwest Container Services (NWCS)
- Washington United Terminals (WUT)
- Husky Terminal
- Matson / Horizon
Port of Seattle Terminals
- Terminal 18 (T-18) — SSA Marine
- Terminal 5 (T-5) — SSA Marine
- ConGlobal (CGI)
Port Drayage Explained Tacoma Seattle — Ready to Book?
Now that port drayage explained — call Tacoma Drayage Trucking for a fast, all-in quote from the Port of Tacoma or Port of Seattle. We respond within 1 business hour Monday–Friday and are on-call for urgent moves on weekends.
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