In the shipping and logistics business, drayage refers to the transport of goods for short distances. Drayage can mean the transport of containerized goods, but that is not the only definition.
Products that are being shipping often go through several different types of shipping between the time they leave their source of origin and the time they arrive at their destination. These types of shipping can vary between ocean, rail, air and ground or truck transport.
Drayage can refer to goods moving a short distance from ship, for example, to rail or rail to air or it can refer just to goods moving from ship or rail or air to their final destination. There also may be several parts or legs involved in moving a drayage shipment. For example, goods may need to be dropped off at more than once destination or more goods may need to be picked up.
Drayage is a very important part of shipping as the efficiencies in short-haul transport of goods has a large effect on overall efficiency in shipping. If drayage has delays, then goods may sit unloaded for long periods of time, perishable items can suffer damage, and other time-sensitive shipments create problems for the manufacturer. Therefore, if you need drayage for your shipment of goods, you will want an shipping and logistics partner who is an expert in the short-haul efficiency—like us!
Origin of the Term
The term, drayage, comes from the word dray which historically meant a cart. Dray or draft horses were the massive horses used to work and pull carts of product. Now, we use the term, drayage, in modern shipping and logistics as any short-haul transport.
For over 30 years, 18 Wheels Logistics has strived to be the most customer-centric trucking, warehousing, and logistics company around. Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 18 Wheels relies on experience and integrity to make customers happy and remain on the cutting edge of shipping and logistics management.
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