How To Ship Your Own Containers From the Ports with BCAT

Drayage is a term used to describe the process of transporting goods over short distances. You can use this type of service to transport your containers from port to port, from a port to the railyard to start the next leg of the journey, or to transport it from the port to its final location.

Drayage is typically a part of a shipment's longer overall move such as moving your freight from the port to the warehouse. With the drayage process, there is normally a round-trip involved as the container you receive has to be emptied and returned to the port as soon as possible. Once you've unloaded the container, the truck will take the container back to the port.

BCAT offers you drayage services as part of their cost-effective mode of transport services. Intermodal drayage is the transportaion of cargo by rail, sea, or truck. BCAT services include this type of shipping so your containers move seamlessly between different modes of transportation to ensure the timely arrival of your items.

Why Drayage with BCAT is so Important

Although you might think drayage is a small step in the shipping process, in reality, it is a vital piece of the logistics puzzle. To meet the demands of the increase in global trade, and to remain efficient the supply chains have to keep the movement of goods moving without interruption.

Dray services will help to avoid bottlenecks and congestion in the ports. If the first mile of your product delivery goes smoothly, you have a better chance the remainder of the journey will continue to be a success.

Drayage services help customers reduce the costs associated with using containers to haul freight. Containers are more convenient to use as they allow for the movement of large loads, such as fiberglass, metals, car, or steel. These containers have to get back to port so they can be repacked with the next shipment. BCAT will get your products to you and the container back in time before you incur additional charges.

Using BCAT drayage services is more cost-effective and time-efficient for your business. Having these professionals work with your shipments who are vetted and insured ensures you will have your products brought from the deck of the ship or rail car to its next mode of transport or your warehouse safely and on time.

Classification of Drayage Services

The Intermodal Association of North America has split drayage services into several categories:

• Inter-carrier drayage where the movement of units travels over a short distance between carriers such as railroad stations by truck

• Expedited drayage is when units are efficiently transported over the road if you have time-sensitive materials

• Intra-carrier drayage is much like inter-carrier except intra-carrier takes freight from the railcar to an intermodal hub all by the same carrier

• Door-to-door drayage are retail units taken to a customer through the road system

• Shuttle drayage is when an intermodal unit temporarily goes to a parking hub from its origin of arrival. This method is used for empty and loaded units if overcrowding occurs in the hub

• Pier drayage uses roadways with the intermodal unit and takes it to a pier or dock from its previous rail hub

BCAT for all Your Shipping Needs

BCAT offers intermodal service from coast to coast. If you need to ship time-sensitive materials, a car or motorcycle, something outside of the United States, or any type of unit, work with the best at BCAT to ensure your shipments are handled safely and efficiently.