Container haulage, port to door
Container haulage is the truck move between the port or terminal and a warehouse, factory or yard. We book the trucking and coordinate the container pickup, the delivery and the return of the empty, so each handover has a named step.
What it is
A container is too heavy and too large for an ordinary truck. It travels on a container trailer, pulled by a tractor unit and sometimes carried on a chassis, which is the wheeled frame the container sits on.
Haulage covers the road leg either side of the sea leg. Import haulage brings a loaded container from the terminal to the consignee. Export haulage takes an empty one to the shipper and brings the loaded one back to the terminal. We book these moves with trucking companies and coordinate them with the shipping line and the terminal.
When to use it
- A full container needs to reach, or leave, a warehouse or factory door.
- You need the empty container returned to the right depot after unloading.
- You want a container moved between a terminal and a storage or de-stuffing site.
- You ship regularly and want the road leg planned together with the sea booking.
What we handle
- Booking trucks and chassis for the container move
- Port or depot release and gate-in coordination
- Delivery appointments with the consignee
- Return of the empty container to the shipping line's depot
- Advice on storage and container charges that can apply (see Shipping terms: demurrage and detention)
How it runs
- Quote: you send the container details and both addresses, and we price the move.
- Release: we check that the container is released by the shipping line or terminal, or that the booking is ready for an empty pickup.
- Truck booking: we book the truck and chassis for the date and the terminal slot.
- Pickup and gate: the truck collects the container, and any gate documents or reference numbers are checked.
- Delivery and return: the truck goes to your address at the agreed slot, and the empty goes back to the shipping line's depot.
What to send us for a quote
| Detail | Why we ask |
|---|---|
| Container size and type | Trailers and chassis differ by size |
| Pickup and delivery addresses | To plan the route and check site access |
| Port or terminal | Each terminal has its own gate rules |
| Release or booking reference | The truck cannot collect without it |
| Cargo weight | The truck and road have weight limits |
Good to know
- Free days are limited. Demurrage and detention start after they end, so book the pickup and the empty return before the clock runs short.
- Trucks can wait at the terminal gate. Waiting time, extra drops and a second attempt at delivery are often charged separately.
- Check site access before booking. A container trailer needs room to turn, a firm surface and a dock or level area for unloading.
Questions
Can you collect an empty container for me to load?
Yes. We book the empty pickup from the depot named by the shipping line and coordinate delivery to your loading address.
Do I need to be present at delivery?
Someone at the receiving site normally signs for the container. We coordinate the appointment so the site is ready.