Seattle & Tacoma Drayage: NWSA Port Pickup for PNW
Seattle and Tacoma operate as The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) — two ports run as one. Between them, they handle more Asia-origin container volume than any U.S. port other than LA/Long Beach. Drayage out of the NWSA is the primary first-mile service for importers distributing through Pacific Northwest, the Intermountain West, and direct rail to the Midwest.
Terminals we cover in Seattle/Tacoma
Seattle side
- Terminal 18 (SSA Terminals) — main Seattle container terminal, MSC, CMA CGM, major alliances
- Terminal 5 (SSA Terminals) — recently expanded, handles larger vessels
- Terminal 46 — legacy container operation
- Terminal 30 — breakbulk and RO/RO
Tacoma side
- Washington United Terminals (WUT) — largest Tacoma container facility, ONE, THE Alliance
- Husky Terminal — COSCO and OOCL
- Olympic Container Terminal — K Line, Hyundai
- Pierce County Terminal — specific carrier services
Seattle/Tacoma drayage rates
| Move type | Typical rate range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal to Seattle/Tacoma metro | $400 – $600 | Local 3PL warehouses, under 40 miles |
| Terminal to Portland OR | $900 – $1,300 | Same/next day, I-5 corridor |
| Terminal to Spokane | $1,300 – $1,700 | Next day |
| Terminal to Boise ID | $1,500 – $1,900 | Next day |
| Terminal to Reno / Salt Lake City | $2,000 – $2,600 | 2-day transit |
| Rail transfer (BNSF South Seattle / UP Argo) | $350 – $500 | Short drayage, often same-day |
| Overweight (tri-axle, permitted) | +$200 – $400 | WA permits, +1 day lead |
Why the NWSA works for PNW importers
- Closest Asia-US transit. Trans-Pacific shipping routes terminate a day or two faster in Seattle/Tacoma than LA.
- Direct BNSF/UP rail ramps inside or adjacent to terminals — Midwest and Southeast intermodal runs fast. We coordinate Pacific Northwest intermodal drayage from terminal to ramp and onward to Chicago, Memphis, and Dallas via BNSF and UP.
- Less congestion than LA/LB most of the year — though peak season can bunch vessels.
- Softer rates on Asia imports compared to LA.
What’s different about NWSA drayage
Two ports, one alliance
NWSA is a single management structure over two physical port systems. Carrier services swap between Seattle and Tacoma terminals based on alliance rotations. Same carrier from the same shipping line might call Seattle one week and Tacoma the next — always verify terminal before dispatching drayage.
Winter and weather
Pacific Northwest weather rarely closes the port, but snow/ice events in December-February can shut I-90 east and delay inland moves. Budget buffer time on Spokane and Boise lanes in winter.
Chassis
Northwest Chassis Pool (DCLI) covers both ports. Generally reliable. Chassis swaps between terminals are routine since both ports share the pool.
The demurrage clock
NWSA typically gives 4-5 free days. Per-diem demurrage runs $100-200/day after that. Chassis per-diem starts similar timeframe.
Who we serve at Seattle/Tacoma
- Pacific Northwest importers
- E-commerce sellers fulfilling from Seattle/Tacoma/Portland warehouses
- Retailers staging for West Coast regional distribution
- Intermodal-heavy shippers transferring to BNSF / UP rail
- Forest products, aerospace parts, consumer goods brands serving Asia-to-US lanes
How to book Seattle/Tacoma drayage with us
- Send container number, vessel ETA, and specific terminal (T-18 vs WUT vs Husky, etc.)
- Provide delivery address, live or drop
- Flag overweight, reefer, hazmat or rail transfer destination
- Quote within 30 minutes during business hours
- We coordinate terminal appointments, chassis, and customs release
Get a Seattle/Tacoma drayage quote
Call (516) 252-3395 or submit a drayage quote request. 24/7 for urgent port pulls.
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Get a quote in 30 minutes
Tell us about your container — we answer 24/7 for urgent port pulls and quote within 30 minutes during business hours.
