Intermodal Port Drayage Cost & Accessorial Fee Calculator

Maritime Logistics: Why Drayage Accessorial Fees Often Exceed the Base Linehaul

Drayage refers to the short-distance transport of ocean shipping containers between maritime marine terminals, rail ramps, and inland fulfillment warehouses:

• The Accessorial Trap: While the base linehaul may seem affordable, unplanned accessorial fees (chassis splits, port congestion wait time, hazardous handling, and demurrage) can add 50% to 100%+ to the invoice.

• Detention vs. Demurrage: Demurrage is charged by the port terminal for containers sitting too long on port property; Detention is charged by shipping lines for holding the equipment/chassis outside the port.

How to Use This Calculator

Enter your Drayage Haul Distance (One-Way Miles from Port/Rail) (e.g. 45.0), Base Drayage Flat Rate ( / container) (e.g. 450.0), Fuel Surcharge Rate (FSC %) (e.g. 28.0 (DOE index diesel surcharge)), Chassis Rental Duration (Days @ 45/day) (e.g. 3), Port Terminal & PierPass / Clean Truck Fees () (e.g. 85.0), Port Waiting / Detention Time (Hours beyond 2 free hours @ 95/hr) (e.g. 1.5 (Port gate queue delays)), and Number of Shipping Containers (TEU / FEU) (e.g. 2). Results update instantly as you type — adjust any value to compare scenarios.

The Formula

Intermodal port drayage & accessorial fee equations: Base Rate = Base Contract Rate per Container Surcharge (FSC) = Linehaul Base × DOE Index Surcharge Rate (\%) Surcharges = (Chassis Days × Daily Rate) + Port/Clean Truck Fees + (Detention Hours × Hourly Rate) Drayage Cost per Container = Linehaul Base + FSC + Total Accessorials Shipment Cost = Cost per Container × Container Quantity-In Rate per Mile = (Total Cost per Container) / (One-Way Miles)

Worked Example

For example, moving 2 ocean containers 45 miles from the Port of Los Angeles to an Ontario, CA distribution center with a 450 base rate, 28% FSC (126.00), 3 chassis rental days (135.00), 85 PierPass fee, and 1.5 hours of terminal gate detention (142.50): Cost per container is . Total shipment cost for 2 containers is 1,877.00 at an all-in rate of 20.86/mile.

Understanding Your Result

Compare your result against industry benchmarks for your specific sector — significant variation exists across industries, business stages, and geographic markets. Use this calculation as one data point alongside your unit economics, cash flow, and competitive positioning. For decisions involving significant capital allocation, validate your model assumptions with historical actuals from at least 6–12 months of operating data before projecting forward.