What is the difference between intermodal and drayage?

Intermodal is freight that moves in a container across multiple modes, typically ship, then rail, then truck, without unloading the goods. Drayage is the short-haul trucking portion that moves the container the last leg: from a port or rail ramp to a warehouse, or between terminals. A drayage broker arranges that local container trucking; an intermodal broker may coordinate the rail portion too.

Do you need a special license to broker drayage?

No. Drayage and intermodal use the same FMCSA broker authority (Form OP-1), the $75,000 BMC-84 bond, BOC-3, and UCR as any other freight brokerage. The complexity is operational, not regulatory: you must understand chassis, container free time, demurrage, and per diem fees rather than needing a different license.

What are demurrage and per diem in drayage?

Demurrage is a fee the port or terminal charges when a container sits past its allotted free time. Per diem (also called detention) is a fee the steamship line charges for keeping the container and chassis too long once it leaves the terminal. Both can erase a broker's margin fast, so managing appointment times and turnaround is central to profitable drayage.

Intermodal & Drayage Freight Broker Guide (2026)

Intermodal vs Drayage: The Core Difference

Intermodal freight travels in a shipping container across multiple modes, ocean vessel, then rail, then truck, without the goods ever being unloaded from the container. Drayage is the short-haul trucking leg that moves that container the final miles: from a seaport or rail ramp to a warehouse, or between terminals. As a broker you arrange the trucking; you never take possession of the freight, exactly like any other freight broker.

Why Brokers Work This Niche

Import and export volume is enormous and recurring. Beneficial cargo owners and freight forwarders need reliable drayage capacity near every major port, Los Angeles/Long Beach, Savannah, Houston, New York/New Jersey, and every inland rail ramp. Recurring container flows mean once you earn an account, the volume repeats week after week. Compare this to other specialties in our niche selection guide, and note how it differs from a freight forwarder, who actually takes possession of the goods.

Same License, Different Operations

There is no separate drayage license. You need the standard broker authority, the $75,000 BMC-84 bond, BOC-3, and UCR, see full license requirements. The learning curve is operational: chassis supply, container free time, and the fees below.

The Fees That Make or Break Margin

Chassis: the wheeled frame that carries the container; you must arrange and pay for it.
Demurrage: charged by the port when a container sits past its free time.
Per diem / detention: charged by the steamship line for holding the container and chassis too long.
Pre-pull and drop fees: for pulling a container early or dropping it for later delivery.

These accessorial charges can erase your margin if you do not pass them through correctly, so tight appointment scheduling and fast container turnaround are the whole game.

Vetting Drayage Carriers

Drayage carriers must hold port credentials (like a TWIC card and port access) in addition to the usual authority and insurance. Run every carrier through the same vetting checklist and stay alert to double-brokering scams, which are common around busy ports.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is drayage good for a new broker?

It can be, if you are near a port or ramp and take time to learn the fee structure. The recurring volume rewards brokers who build reliable local carrier relationships.

Are intermodal margins lower than truckload?

Per-move margins are often thinner, but volume and repeat frequency make up for it once you hold steady accounts.