Drayage for Freight Forwarders

Updated April 27, 2026 · 3 min read

Freight forwarders run a different business than shippers. You’re not moving your own freight — you’re executing for someone else’s. Your customers expect visibility, clean paperwork, and zero surprises. That puts a very specific set of requirements on the drayage partner handling the US-side first-mile move out of the port.

BlackBridge Logistics works with freight forwarders regularly. This page is for you — how we operate, what we need from you, and what your customers get.

Why freight forwarders use us for US drayage

• Broker-of-brokers operating model. We don’t compete for your customer. We execute the US-side drayage leg and hand it back to you to deliver to your client. Quietly, cleanly.
• Single point of contact across every US port. One call, one email — we handle whichever port your container lands at. No learning new vendor relationships for every routing.
• Transparent communication. You need to tell your customer where their container is. We tell you — with timestamps — at every step: vessel arrival, customs clearance, pickup, in-transit, delivered.
• Bonded carrier network. In-bond moves, cross-border (Mexico / Canada), and bonded warehouse transfers are routine for us — not a special-project ask.
• 24/7 operational staff. When a vessel arrives on Sunday night or a customs hold drops at 6 AM, we respond.

Services we run for forwarders

Standard drayage (cleared cargo)

Container clears customs, we dispatch a chassis-equipped carrier, pull from the terminal, and deliver to your customer’s warehouse, 3PL, or your own staging facility.

Bonded drayage

Container hasn’t cleared yet, or it’s moving between customs-bonded locations. We arrange qualified bonded motor carriers and coordinate the CBP 7512 handoff with your customs broker. Common on:

• Port-to-bonded-warehouse transfers for temporary storage
• Inland customs clearance (entry at a port-of-entry different from arrival port)
• Cross-border routing through Laredo, Otay Mesa, Buffalo, Detroit, etc.
• Trans-shipment through US territory for re-export

Intermodal transfer

First-mile drayage from terminal to BNSF or UP rail ramp, connecting to inland intermodal freight. Common when your freight’s final destination is in the Midwest, Southeast, or Texas but the vessel is calling a West Coast port.

Transloading and cross-dock

Container pulled to a cross-dock facility near the port, contents transferred into 53-ft domestic trailers, shipped inland. Cheaper per cube on long lanes. We quote both containerized and transloaded options so you can choose.

Project and specialty drayage

Oversize, overweight, hazmat, flatbed-out-of-container, and temperature-controlled. Forwarders often get stuck when standard drayage can’t handle a specialized load. We work with carriers who do.

How we operate with forwarders

Communication loop

We default to email with structured subject lines (“Container XXXX1234567 — Port of LA — Pickup 4/25”). You can forward our updates directly to your customers without re-formatting. EDI, API, or custom portal integration is available on request for volume accounts.

Rate structure

Forwarder pricing is typically flat per-lane with published accessorial rates (detention, chassis split, pre-pull, weekend dispatch). No surprise fees at invoice. Published rate sheets available for recurring lanes.

Credit terms

Net 30 with established forwarders after a small number of qualifying moves. We don’t require prepayment for forwarder accounts with insurance and standard credit applications on file.

Customs broker coordination

Your customs broker files the entry. We talk to them — not just your team — to confirm release status, holds, and documentation needs. On bonded moves, we file the in-bond manifest ourselves when the carrier is bonded; otherwise we coordinate the filing with your broker.

Ports where we work routinely with forwarders

• Port of Houston — including bonded and cross-border to Mexico
• Port Newark / Elizabeth — our home territory
• Los Angeles / Long Beach — largest US port complex
• Port of Savannah — fastest-growing East Coast port
• Port of Charleston — Carolinas + Southeast distribution
• Port of Oakland — NorCal, Central Valley, Pacific Northwest
• NWSA (Seattle/Tacoma) — Pacific Northwest + intermodal
• Miami / Port Everglades — Caribbean, Latin America, FL distribution

What we need from you to get started

1. Your company name, scope of operations, and main trade lanes
2. Typical volume — containers per month and major origin countries
3. Primary US ports where you need drayage support
4. Customs broker relationship info (we’ll contact them directly with your permission)
5. Accounts payable contact for billing setup
6. Insurance certificates if you have a cargo or liability coverage preference

Once we have those, we can set up a rate structure for your typical lanes and start quoting container-level work within 24-48 hours. Single-load trial moves are welcome — no minimums to start a relationship.

Not a forwarder? Still reading?

If you’re a 3PL, a customs broker, a freight auditor, or a customer who happens to handle some forwarding as part of a broader business — the same operating model applies. Talk to us.

Start a drayage conversation

Call (516) 252-3395 or submit a drayage quote request. Mention you’re a forwarder — we’ll route you to an account manager who handles forwarder relationships.

Related

• Container Drayage Service
• Bonded Cross-Border Drayage Guide
• Port Drayage Fees Explained
• Drayage at Every Major US Port