The short haul that keeps every container moving on schedule.
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Drayage is the trucking that connects the port terminal to the vanning yard and the shipper's door. It is short-distance, high-stakes work, where a missed slot or a late chassis can hold an entire booking. We move containers between Japan's ports, yards, and loading points so the rest of the export runs on time.
On This Page
The First and Last Mile
What drayage is, and why it matters
Drayage is the short-distance road transport of a shipping container between a port terminal and a nearby point, such as a container yard, a vanning warehouse, a rail ramp, or the shipper's premises. In an export from Japan, it is the leg that gets an empty container to where your cargo is loaded, then carries the loaded container to the terminal in time for the vessel cut-off.
The distance is short but the timing is unforgiving. Terminals run on appointment windows, chassis are a shared resource, and a container that misses its gate slot can miss the vessel. Reliable drayage is what keeps the expensive parts of the chain from slipping: the ocean booking, the customs filing, and the cut-off.
The Process
How a drayage move runs
Every move follows the same sequence, whether it is an export pickup or an import delivery:
- Book and planWe confirm container size, pickup and delivery points, the cut-off date, and the terminal appointment window, then schedule the chassis and driver against it.
- Empty pickup or releaseFor exports, we collect an empty container from the depot or terminal. For imports, we take the loaded container off the terminal once it is customs-cleared and released.
- HaulageThe container is hauled between the terminal and the loading or delivery point. We track the move and flag any delay against the cut-off the moment it appears.
- Load or unload windowAt the vanning yard or the door, the container is stuffed or stripped within the booked window. We hold the chassis only as long as the appointment allows, to avoid demurrage and detention.
- Return and closeThe loaded export container is gated in before cut-off, or the empty import container is returned to the depot. Proof of delivery and gate records close the file.
Equipment
Containers and equipment we handle
We move the standard container types used in vehicle and general-cargo export from Japan, matched to the right chassis for each:
What we move
- 20ft, 40ft, and 40ft high-cube (HC) dry containers
- Flat-rack and open-top for over-dimension cargo
- Matched chassis, including tri-axle for heavy loads
- Overweight and special-permit moves, arranged in advance
Coverage
Ports and regions we cover
Our drayage operation covers Japan's main export gateways and the auction and vanning clusters around them: the Tokyo and Yokohama terminals in Kanto, Nagoya in Chubu, and Osaka, Kobe, and Hakata further west. Each lane is run by drivers who know the terminal, the appointment system, and the local depots.
Because our drayage, yard, and ocean teams work from the same booking, the handoffs between port pickup, vanning, and vessel loading stay tight. For a specific lane or a port not listed here, contact our operations team.
Drayage and the rest of your shipment
Drayage is the road leg only, the haulage of the container between the terminal and the loading point. It does not include the ocean freight booking, the customs declaration, or the vanning labour itself. Those are handled by the relevant teams and quoted separately.
If you need the full chain rather than the haulage alone, we can package it. See Ocean Transportation for the sea freight and booking, and Customs Clearance for the declaration. Drayage slots into both.
Where drayage fits in
Common situations our customers come to us with
01
You need an empty container delivered to your vanning yard
We collect the right-size container from the depot and deliver it to your loading point inside the appointment window, so vanning can start on schedule.
02
Your loaded container has to make a vessel cut-off
We schedule the gate slot, haul the loaded container to the terminal, and gate it in before cut-off, with the move tracked so any delay is flagged early.
03
An import container has cleared customs and needs delivery
Once the box is released, we take it off the port and deliver it to the consignee, then return the empty within the free time to avoid detention.
Common Questions
Frequently asked
What is the difference between drayage and regular trucking?
Drayage is the short-distance movement of a container to or from a port terminal, usually within the same port area, worked to terminal appointment windows on a container chassis. Regular long-haul trucking covers longer overland distances between cities.
Do you provide the chassis, or do I arrange it?
We provide the chassis matched to your container size as part of the service. For overweight or special cargo needing a tri-axle or permit, tell us at booking so we schedule the right unit.
How do you avoid demurrage and detention charges?
We plan moves around the free-time clock by booking gate slots early, returning empties promptly, and flagging delays as they appear. Charges from causes outside our control are passed through transparently.
Can drayage be booked on its own, or only with ocean freight?
Both. It can be a standalone haulage service, or bundled with ocean freight and customs as part of a full export from one booking.
Do you handle import drayage as well as export?
Yes. We deliver cleared import containers to the consignee and return empties within free time. Export drayage moves empties to the vanning point and loaded boxes to the terminal before cut-off.
How far in advance should I book?
The more notice the better, since appointment windows and chassis are limited. A few business days suits a standard move, and overweight or permit moves need more lead time. Tell us the cut-off and we work back from it.