Container Pickup Fees

In the process of container pickup (i.e., picking up a sea container from a port) in the United States, a series of fees may be encountered, which involve multiple links, including but not limited to:

Stowage Fee (Detention)/Late Return Fee: When a container is picked up from the port, a storage fee will be incurred if it is not returned within the free usage period.

This fee is typically calculated daily, and rates vary according to different shipping companies and ports.

Demurrage: The terminal will charge a Demurrage if the container is stored at the terminal for more than the free storage period (commonly referred to as Free Time).

After the expiration date, the charges may increase daily, with standards varying according to the number of days overdue and the terminal policy.

Pre-Pull Fee: If the warehouse requires a day’s advance to pick up the container for delivery the next day, the trailer company may charge a pre-Pull Fee fee to move the container from the wharf to its yard in advance.

Double Handling Charge: Additional costs incurred when the first load cannot be loaded directly and needs to be lifted again.

Chassis Fee: The cost of leasing a trailer chassis for transporting containers on the ground.

Due to some shipping companies no longer providing free trailers, the trailer company needs to lease from a third party, which may pass on the cost to the shipper.

Truck pickup fee (Drayage): short-distance transportation from port to warehouse or customer location.

Storage fee (Warehousing Fee): If the goods need to be temporarily stored in the warehouse, a fee will be charged according to the storage time.

Document processing fee (Documentation Fee): the cost of processing bills of lading and other transport documents.

Customs clearance fee (Customs Clearance Fee): the agency service fee generated in the process of import customs clearance.

Duties/Taxes: taxes and fees that may be imposed by the Customs according to the value and category of the goods.

Amendment Fee: The cost of modifying the information on a bill of lading.

Understanding these costs and planning can effectively avoid additional expenses during the container pickup process, helping to control logistics costs.

In practice, it is recommended to communicate in detail with the logistics company to clarify all fees and their billing rules, so as to make the best decision.