How-ToFebruary 10, 20268 min read

    Drayage, Intermodal & Port Logistics: Software for the New Supply Chain

    Drayage and intermodal don't behave like over-the-road. Five-mile loops, $150 chassis fees, per-diem clocks, and dual-transactions break most generic TMS tools. Here's what intermodal carriers actually need.

    Why generic TMS fails at the port

    • No native handling of chassis pool and per-diem clocks
    • Can't track empty-return appointment denials separately
    • Mile-based billing logic doesn't fit move-based pricing
    • Doesn't surface dwell costs against the move's revenue

    What drayage operators actually need

    • Move-based load entry (in/out gates, container, chassis)
    • Per-diem and demurrage clock with alerts
    • Dual-transaction routing logic (pull + return on one move)
    • Driver app that captures empty-return denials with timestamp
    • Tariff-based billing instead of $/mile

    Markets where this matters most

    If you run out of Long Beach, Los Angeles, Newark, Savannah, Houston, Seattle/Tacoma, Charleston, or Miami — drayage-aware software pays for itself in a single avoided per-diem.

    Built for port drayage too

    Sources & further reading

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