Drayage & Intermodal Terms

UIIA (Uniform Intermodal Interchange Agreement)

The standard contract that allows motor carriers to access shared chassis equipment at US container terminals and rail ramps.

TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential)

A TSA-issued biometric identity card required for unescorted access to secure US maritime port facilities.

FMCSA SAFER

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Safety and Fitness Electronic Records system — the official federal database of all registered US motor carriers.

SMS BASIC Score

A percentile score assigned by the FMCSA's Safety Measurement System rating a carrier's safety performance across seven behavioral categories.

USDOT Number

The unique federal identification number assigned by the FMCSA to every commercial motor vehicle operator registered for interstate commerce.

CARB Compliance

Conformance with California Air Resources Board emission standards for diesel trucks, required for all drayage carriers operating at California ports.

Bonded Carrier

A carrier authorized by US Customs and Border Protection to transport in-bond cargo (cargo that has not cleared customs) between bonded facilities without paying duties in advance.

Drayage

The short-distance trucking of cargo between a port, terminal, or rail ramp and a nearby warehouse or distribution center.

Port Drayage

Drayage moves originating or terminating at a seaport container terminal.

Intermodal Drayage

Container moves between an intermodal rail ramp and a warehouse or distribution center.

TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit)

The standard unit of measurement for container capacity, based on the dimensions of a 20-foot ISO shipping container.

Detention & Demurrage

Fees charged when containers are held beyond the allowed free time at a terminal (demurrage) or when a carrier's equipment is held beyond a set time (detention).

Free Time

The number of calendar days a container can remain at a terminal after vessel discharge without incurring demurrage charges.

Chassis

A wheeled trailer frame designed to carry ISO shipping containers, towed by a drayage truck between terminals and delivery points.

Chassis Split

When a container and its chassis are at different locations, requiring the driver to make a separate trip to pick up the chassis before retrieving the container.

Street Turn

An arrangement where a drayage carrier moves an import container to its destination, then picks up an export empty at the same or nearby location — avoiding a trip back to the terminal depot.

Last Free Day (LFD)

The final day a container can remain at a terminal without incurring demurrage charges, as defined by the ocean carrier's tariff.

PierPASS

A traffic mitigation program at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach that charges a fee (OffPeak Fee) for daytime weekday container pickups to shift volume to nights and weekends.

Hazmat Drayage

Drayage of containers classified as hazardous materials, requiring DOT hazmat endorsement and specific handling, placarding, and routing compliance.

Reefer Drayage

Drayage of refrigerated containers (reefers) requiring temperature monitoring, powered chassis, and carriers equipped to maintain cold chain integrity.