Drayage Rates in Miami: 2026 Cost Guide

Drayage rates in Miami are typically quoted as a base rate per container move from the Port of Miami or Port Everglades to your warehouse, plus accessorial fees — chassis rental, fuel surcharge, wait time, and (if timing slips) demurrage and per diem. For a standard local move within Miami-Dade, the base commonly falls in the $250–$550 range, but accessorials are where budgets blow up. Understanding the line items is the fastest way to control the total.

What goes into a Miami drayage rate

Base move

Distance from terminal to door drives the base: a warehouse in Medley or near Miami International Airport costs less to reach from PortMiami than one in Palm Beach County. Round-trip vs. drop-and-pick also changes the price.

Common accessorials

Chassis rental ($30–$60/day), fuel surcharge (a percentage of base), congestion or wait time after free minutes at the terminal, overweight or hazmat surcharges, and yard storage if your dock can’t receive the box immediately.

Demurrage and per diem

Demurrage accrues when the container sits at the terminal past free days; per diem accrues when you keep the ocean carrier’s container too long after pickup. Both can exceed the entire drayage bill within a week. The single best defense is a receiving warehouse close to the port that can devan the same day.

How to lower your drayage cost

Book delivery to a warehouse minutes from the terminal, devan and return the container fast, and consolidate moves with one provider. Go Warehouse receives containers at its container freight station just north of Miami, offers transloading into domestic trailers, and can cross-dock urgent freight for same-day delivery across Florida — so boxes go back empty before demurrage or per diem starts.

Frequently asked questions

How much does drayage cost per container in Miami?

Local moves within Miami-Dade commonly run $250–$550 base plus accessorials. Longer hauls to Broward or Palm Beach, overweight loads, and hazmat add to that.

What is the difference between demurrage and per diem?

Demurrage is charged while the container is still at the terminal past free time; per diem is charged after pickup while you hold the carrier’s equipment. Fast devanning near the port minimizes both.

Does Go Warehouse arrange drayage?

Yes — through the Go Freight family of companies, container pickup at PortMiami or Port Everglades can be coordinated with same-day receiving at the warehouse.

Importing containers through South Florida? Pair drayage with same-day devanning at Go Warehouse, minutes from PortMiami. Get a combined quote.