PORTS DIRECTORY
US Container Ports: Drayage Carrier Directory
Drayage is the short-haul trucking that moves containers between a port terminal and a nearby warehouse, rail ramp, or distribution center. Every container that enters or leaves the United States by ship touches a drayage carrier at least once. The carrier you choose determines whether that move happens on time, at cost, and without compliance issues at the terminal gate.
Not every carrier can work at every port. US container terminals require drivers to hold a TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential) issued by the TSA for access to secure port areas. Most terminals also require carriers to be enrolled in the UIIA (Uniform Intermodal Interchange and Facilities Access Agreement) to use shared chassis pools. At California ports, CARB emissions compliance adds another layer. Carriers who lack these credentials simply cannot enter the terminal gate and complete a pickup or delivery.
The United States has ten major container port complexes and one dominant inland intermodal hub (Chicago) that together account for the vast majority of containerized trade. The Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach, operating as a combined complex in San Pedro Bay, is the largest by far, handling roughly 40 percent of all US container imports. On the East Coast, New York and New Jersey ranks second nationally, followed by Savannah, which has seen explosive growth driven by Southeast US distribution center expansion. Houston dominates Gulf Coast container trade, while Seattle and Tacoma together handle Pacific Northwest cargo under the Northwest Seaport Alliance.
DrayLocator indexes verified drayage carriers across all major US ports and intermodal hubs, cross-referenced with FMCSA SAFER data refreshed daily. Select a port below to see carriers, compliance requirements, and frequently asked questions specific to that location.