What Is the Difference Between Freight and Drayage
What is the difference between freight and drayage?
What are freight and drayage?
Freight and drayage are two distinct yet interconnected components of the logistics and transportation industry. Both play crucial roles in moving goods from one point to another, but they operate on different scales and serve unique purposes within the supply chain.
Freight
Freight refers to the transportation of goods over long distances, typically across countries or continents. This mode of transport involves the movement of large quantities of cargo using various means such as ships, trains, trucks, or airplanes. Freight operations handle a wide range of products, from raw materials to finished goods, and are essential for global trade and commerce.
The freight industry encompasses several key aspects:
Long-distance transportation: Freight moves goods over hundreds or thousands of miles, connecting manufacturers, suppliers, and consumers across vast geographical areas.
Multi-modal options: Depending on the urgency, cost considerations, and nature of the cargo, freight can be transported via sea, air, rail, or road.
Large-scale operations: Freight services are designed to handle substantial volumes of goods, often measured in tons or container loads.
Complex logistics: Freight operations involve intricate planning, including route optimization, customs clearance, and coordinating multiple transportation modes.
Drayage
Drayage, on the other hand, focuses on short-distance transportation, typically within the same metropolitan area or between nearby facilities. It serves as a critical link in the intermodal transportation chain, moving containers or cargo over short distances, often between ports, rail yards, and local warehouses or distribution centers.
Key characteristics of drayage include:
Short-haul transport: Drayage operations usually cover distances of 50 miles or less, focusing on efficient local movement of goods.
Intermodal connections: Drayage bridges the gap between different modes of transportation, such as moving containers from ships to trucks or from rail yards to local warehouses.
Specialized equipment: Drayage often utilizes specific trucks designed to handle shipping containers, such as chassis trucks.
Quick turnaround: Drayage services prioritize speed and efficiency in moving goods over short distances, often completing multiple trips per day.
Understanding the fundamental differences between freight and drayage is essential for businesses looking to optimize their supply chain operations. While freight handles the long-distance movement of goods on a large scale, drayage focuses on the critical short-distance transfers that keep the supply chain flowing smoothly.
How do freight and drayage differ in scope and distance?
The scope and distance covered by freight and drayage operations are among the most significant factors distinguishing these two transportation methods. Understanding these differences is crucial for businesses to make informed decisions about their logistics strategies.
Freight: Long-Distance, Wide-Reaching Transport
Freight transportation is characterized by its extensive reach and ability to cover vast distances. This mode of transport is designed to move goods across countries, continents, and oceans, connecting global markets and facilitating international trade.
Scope of freight operations:
Global reach: Freight services can transport goods anywhere in the world, from major urban centers to remote locations.
Multi-national networks: Freight companies often operate extensive networks spanning multiple countries and continents.
Diverse cargo types: Freight handles a wide variety of goods, from raw materials to finished products, accommodating different industries and sectors.
Distance covered by freight:
Long-haul journeys: Freight typically covers distances of hundreds or thousands of miles.
Cross-border transport: Many freight operations involve crossing international borders, requiring compliance with various customs regulations.
Extended transit times: Due to the long distances involved, freight shipments can take days, weeks, or even months to reach their final destination, depending on the mode of transport and route.
Drayage: Short-Distance, Localized Movement
In contrast to freight, drayage focuses on short-distance transportation, typically within a limited geographical area. Drayage plays a crucial role in the “first mile” and “last mile” of the supply chain, ensuring smooth transitions between different modes of transport.
Scope of drayage operations:
Local focus: Drayage services operate within specific metropolitan areas or regions, connecting ports, rail yards, and nearby facilities.
Intermodal connections: Drayage bridges the gap between different transportation modes, facilitating the transfer of goods between ships, trains, and trucks.
Specialized container handling: Many drayage operations focus on moving shipping containers, providing a critical link in the intermodal transportation chain.
Distance covered by drayage:
Short-haul transport: Drayage typically covers distances of 50 miles or less, with many operations confined to even shorter ranges.
Same-day service: Due to the short distances involved, drayage often provides same-day pickup and delivery services.
Multiple trips per day: Drayage trucks can complete several trips in a single day, maximizing efficiency in local goods movement.
To illustrate the stark contrast in scope and distance between freight and drayage, consider the following comparison table:
| Aspect | Freight | Drayage |
|---|---|---|
| Typical distance covered | Hundreds to thousands of miles | 50 miles or less |
| Geographical reach | Global (cross-country, international) | Local (within metropolitan areas) |
| Transit time | Days to weeks | Hours to one day |
| Border crossings | Often involves multiple border crossings | Typically does not cross borders |
| Number of trips per day | One long-distance journey | Multiple short-distance trips |
Understanding these differences in scope and distance is essential for businesses to effectively plan their logistics operations. While freight is ideal for long-distance, large-scale transportation needs, drayage provides the crucial short-distance connections that keep the supply chain running smoothly at a local level.
What types of cargo are typically handled by freight vs. drayage?
The types of cargo handled by freight and drayage services can vary significantly, reflecting the different roles these transportation methods play in the supply chain. Understanding these distinctions helps businesses choose the most appropriate service for their specific cargo needs.
Freight: Diverse and Large-Scale Cargo
Freight transportation is designed to handle a wide variety of cargo types, often in large quantities. The versatility of freight services allows them to accommodate the needs of various industries and sectors.
Types of cargo typically handled by freight:
Bulk commodities: Freight services often transport large quantities of raw materials such as coal, grain, or oil. These commodities are usually shipped in specialized containers or bulk carriers.
Manufactured goods: Finished products from various industries, including electronics, automotive parts, and consumer goods, are commonly transported via freight.
Perishable items: Many freight services offer refrigerated or temperature-controlled options for transporting food products, pharmaceuticals, and other perishable goods.
Hazardous materials: Freight companies with appropriate certifications can handle the transportation of dangerous goods, chemicals, and other hazardous materials.
Oversized or heavy cargo: Specialized freight services cater to the transportation of large machinery, construction equipment, or other oversized items.
Containerized cargo: Standard shipping containers filled with various goods are a staple of freight transportation, especially in international trade.
Drayage: Focused on Containerized and Local Cargo
Drayage services typically handle more specific types of cargo, often focusing on containerized goods and items requiring short-distance transportation within a local area.
Types of cargo typically handled by drayage:
Shipping containers: The primary focus of many drayage operations is moving standard shipping containers between ports, rail yards, and local facilities.
Intermodal cargo: Drayage plays a crucial role in transferring goods between different modes of transport, handling cargo that needs to move from ships to trucks or from trains to local warehouses.
Local deliveries: Drayage services often handle the distribution of goods from warehouses to local retailers or businesses within a metropolitan area.
Time-sensitive shipments: Due to its focus on short-distance, quick-turnaround transportation, drayage is often used for time-critical cargo that needs to be moved quickly within a local area.
Partial container loads: Drayage can efficiently handle smaller shipments or partial container loads that need to be consolidated or distributed locally.
To better illustrate the differences in cargo types handled by freight and drayage, consider the following comparison table:
| Cargo Type | Freight | Drayage |
|---|---|---|
| Bulk commodities (e.g., grain, oil) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Manufactured goods | ✓ | ✓ (local distribution) |
| Perishable items | ✓ | ✓ (short-distance) |
| Hazardous materials | ✓ | ✓ (with proper certification) |
| Oversized cargo | ✓ | ✗ (unless for short local moves) |
| Shipping containers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Intermodal transfers | ✗ | ✓ |
| Time-sensitive local deliveries | ✗ | ✓ |
| Partial container loads | ✓ | ✓ (for local consolidation/distribution) |
While there is some overlap in the types of cargo handled by freight and drayage services, the key difference lies in the scale and distance of transportation. Freight typically handles larger quantities over longer distances, while drayage focuses on efficient, short-distance movement of containers and local cargo.
Understanding these cargo distinctions helps businesses align their transportation needs with the most suitable service. For large-scale, long-distance shipping of diverse goods, freight is the go-to option. For quick, local movement of containers and time-sensitive deliveries, drayage provides the necessary efficiency and flexibility.
How do transportation modes differ between freight and drayage?
The transportation modes used in freight and drayage operations differ significantly, reflecting their distinct roles in the supply chain. These differences in modes of transport directly impact the efficiency, cost, and capabilities of each service.
Freight: Multi-Modal Long-Distance Transport
Freight transportation utilizes a variety of modes to move goods over long distances, often combining different methods to create the most efficient and cost-effective route.
Primary transportation modes used in freight:
Ocean freight: Ships and container vessels are used for international and intercontinental transport, carrying large volumes of goods across oceans and seas.
Air freight: Airplanes are employed for time-sensitive or high-value cargo that needs to be transported quickly over long distances.
Rail freight: Trains are used for overland transport of large quantities of goods, especially for bulk commodities and containerized cargo.
Road freight: Long-haul trucks move goods over highways and roads, offering flexibility in route planning and door-to-door service.
Intermodal freight: This combines two or more modes of transport, such as ship-to-rail or air-to-truck, to optimize the transportation process.
Drayage: Specialized Short-Distance Transport
Drayage focuses primarily on road transportation, using specialized trucks designed for efficient short-distance movement of containers and local cargo.
Primary transportation mode used in drayage:
Truck drayage: Specialized trucks, often equipped with container chassis, are the primary mode of transport for drayage operations.
Types of drayage trucks:
Chassis trucks: These trucks are designed to carry shipping containers and can easily attach and detach containers at ports or rail yards.
Flatbed trucks: Used for oversized or oddly shaped cargo that doesn’t fit in standard containers.
Refrigerated trucks: Employed for temperature-sensitive goods requiring climate control during short-distance transport.
To better understand the differences in transportation modes between freight and drayage, consider the following comparison table:
| Aspect | Freight | Drayage |
|---|---|---|
| Primary modes | Ocean, air, rail, road | Road (trucks) |
| Intermodal capabilities | High (combines multiple modes) | Limited (focuses on truck transport) |
| Vehicle types | Ships, planes, trains, long-haul trucks | Specialized drayage trucks (chassis, flatbed) |
| Distance covered | Long-distance (cross-country, international) | Short-distance (local, metropolitan areas) |
| Flexibility in routing | Moderate (depends on available infrastructure) | High (can navigate urban areas and ports) |
| Cargo capacity | Large (entire shiploads, trainloads) | Limited (individual containers or truckloads) |
| Speed of transport | Varies (days to weeks, depending on mode) | Fast (same-day or next-day delivery) |
The differences in transportation modes between freight and drayage reflect their distinct roles in the supply chain:
Freight’s diverse modes enable it to handle large volumes of cargo over long distances, offering businesses the flexibility to choose the most suitable method based on factors such as cost, speed, and cargo type.
Drayage’s specialized truck transport allows for quick, efficient movement of containers and cargo within local areas, providing the critical link between long-distance freight and final destinations.
Understanding these modal differences is crucial for businesses when planning their logistics operations. While freight offers a range of options for long-distance transport, drayage provides the specialized, short-distance trucking services necessary for seamless intermodal connections and local distribution.
What are the key operational differences between freight and drayage?
The operational aspects of freight and drayage services differ significantly, reflecting their distinct roles in the supply chain. These differences impact how each service is planned, executed, and managed.
Freight Operations: Complex, Long-Term Planning
Freight operations involve intricate logistics planning and coordination across long distances and often multiple modes of transport.
Key operational aspects of freight:
Route planning: Freight operations require careful planning of routes, often involving multiple countries and modes of transport. This includes considering factors such as customs regulations, transit times, and cost-effectiveness.
Documentation: International freight shipments involve extensive paperwork, including bills of lading, customs declarations, and certificates of origin.
Tracking and visibility: Advanced tracking systems are employed to monitor shipments across long distances and multiple handoff points.
Customs clearance: For international shipments, freight operations must navigate complex customs procedures and regulations in different countries.
Warehousing and distribution: Long-distance freight often involves intermediate storage and distribution points along the route.
Insurance and liability: Given the high value and long distances involved, freight operations typically require comprehensive insurance coverage.
Drayage Operations: Agile, Short-Term Execution
Drayage focuses on quick, efficient movement of containers and cargo over short distances, requiring agile operations and rapid response times.
Key operational aspects of drayage:
Local knowledge: Drayage operators must have in-depth knowledge of local roads, port operations, and traffic patterns to ensure efficient routing.
Equipment management: Drayage companies need to manage a fleet of specialized trucks and chassis, ensuring availability for multiple short trips per day.
Port and terminal coordination: Close coordination with port authorities and terminal operators is essential for smooth pickup and delivery of containers.
Appointment scheduling: Drayage operations often involve scheduling specific time slots for container pickup and delivery at ports and warehouses.
Driver management: Efficient allocation of drivers for multiple short trips throughout the day is crucial for drayage operations.
Real-time communication: Rapid communication between dispatchers, drivers, and customers is necessary to handle last-minute changes and ensure timely deliveries.
To illustrate the operational differences between freight and drayage, consider the following comparison table:
| Operational Aspect | Freight | Drayage |
|---|---|---|
| Planning horizon | Long-term (weeks to months) | Short-term (hours to days) |
| Route complexity | High (multiple countries, modes) | Low (local area, single mode) |
| Documentation | Extensive (international paperwork) | Minimal (local transport documents) |
| Customs involvement | Significant for international shipments | Minimal (usually domestic) |
| Tracking requirements | Complex (multiple handoffs, long distances) | Simple (short distances, fewer handoffs) |
| Equipment utilization | Lower (longer transit times) | Higher (multiple trips per day) |
| Scheduling flexibility | Limited (fixed schedules for ships, planes) | High (can adjust to daily demands) |
| Driver requirements | Long-haul expertise | Local area knowledge |
| Communication needs | Periodic updates | Real-time, constant communication |
These operational differences highlight the distinct roles that freight and drayage play in the supply chain:
Freight operations focus on managing complex, long-distance movements of goods, often involving multiple modes of transport and crossing international borders. This requires extensive planning, documentation, and coordination across various stakeholders.
Drayage operations prioritize agility and efficiency in local movements, with a focus on quick turnaround times and responsive service. The emphasis is on maximizing equipment utilization and navigating local logistics challenges.
Understanding these operational distinctions is crucial for businesses when deciding between freight and drayage services. While freight handles the complexities of long-distance, often international, transport, drayage provides the nimble, localized service necessary for efficient last-mile delivery and intermodal connections.
How do cost structures vary between freight and drayage services?
The cost structures of freight and drayage services differ significantly, reflecting their distinct operational models and the scale of transportation they provide. Understanding thesecost differences is crucial for businesses to make informed decisions about their logistics strategies and budget allocations.
Freight Cost Structure: Complex and Variable
Freight costs are typically more complex and can vary widely depending on numerous factors. The long-distance nature of freight transport and the potential involvement of multiple modes contribute to this complexity.
Key components of freight costs:
Transportation charges: These form the base cost and vary depending on the mode of transport (sea, air, rail, or road), distance, and volume of goods.
Fuel surcharges: Often applied separately, these charges fluctuate based on global fuel prices and can significantly impact overall costs.
Customs duties and taxes: For international shipments, these can add substantial costs and vary by country and type of goods.
Insurance: Given the high value and risks associated with long-distance transport, insurance is a significant cost factor in freight services.
Handling and storage fees: Costs for loading, unloading, and potential intermediate storage during long transits.
Documentation fees: Charges for preparing and processing necessary paperwork, especially for international shipments.
Drayage Cost Structure: Simpler and More Predictable
Drayage costs are generally more straightforward and predictable, reflecting the service’s focus on short-distance, localized transport.
Key components of drayage costs:
Per-move pricing: Many drayage services charge a flat rate per container move, which includes pickup, transport, and delivery within a defined area.
Hourly rates: Some drayage providers charge by the hour, which can be beneficial for shipments requiring additional handling or facing potential delays.
Fuel surcharges: While less significant than in long-distance freight, fuel surcharges may still be applied to drayage services.
Accessorial charges: Additional fees for services like container storage, chassis rental, or special handling requirements.
Port fees: Charges imposed by ports for entry, exit, or use of facilities, which are often passed on to the customer.
To illustrate the differences in cost structures between freight and drayage services, consider the following comparison table:
| Cost Component | Freight | Drayage |
|---|---|---|
| Base rate | Variable (distance, mode, volume) | Often fixed (per move or hourly) |
| Fuel surcharges | Significant, highly variable | Less significant, more stable |
| Customs and taxes | Major factor for international | Minimal (usually domestic) |
| Insurance | Substantial cost | Less significant |
| Documentation fees | Considerable for international | Minimal |
| Handling and storage | Often included, can be significant | Usually included in base rate |
| Accessorial charges | Varied and potentially high | Limited, more predictable |
Factors influencing cost differences:
Distance: Freight costs increase significantly with distance, while drayage costs remain relatively stable within a local area.
Volume: Freight often offers economies of scale for large shipments, while drayage costs are more linear.
Mode of transport: Freight costs vary widely between air, sea, rail, and road options. Drayage is primarily road-based, leading to more consistent pricing.
International vs. domestic: Freight costs for international shipments include additional expenses for customs, duties, and complex documentation. Drayage is typically domestic, avoiding these costs.
Time sensitivity: Expedited freight services can be extremely costly. Drayage, being inherently quick due to short distances, has less variation in pricing for time-sensitive moves.
Understanding these cost structure differences is essential for businesses to effectively budget and plan their logistics operations. While freight costs can be more variable and complex, they often offer economies of scale for long-distance, high-volume shipments. Drayage costs, while generally lower per shipment, provide predictable pricing for essential local transport and intermodal connections.
What role do freight and drayage play in the supply chain?
Freight and drayage services each play distinct yet interconnected roles in the modern supply chain. Understanding these roles is crucial for businesses to optimize their logistics operations and ensure smooth movement of goods from origin to destination.
Freight’s Role in the Supply Chain
Freight serves as the backbone of global trade, facilitating the long-distance movement of goods across countries and continents. Its role in the supply chain is multifaceted and essential for connecting manufacturers, suppliers, and consumers worldwide.
Key aspects of freight’s role:
Global connectivity: Freight enables businesses to source materials and distribute products on a global scale, opening up international markets and opportunities.
Bulk transportation: By moving large quantities of goods over long distances, freight allows for economies of scale in production and distribution.
Multi-modal integration: Freight services often combine different transportation modes (sea, air, rail, road) to create efficient and cost-effective routes for goods movement.
Inventory management: Long-distance freight transport influences inventory strategies, allowing businesses to maintain leaner inventories through just-in-time delivery systems.
Trade facilitation: International freight services navigate complex customs and regulatory requirements, facilitating smooth cross-border trade.
Supply chain resilience: Diverse freight options provide flexibility in routing and mode selection, enhancing supply chain resilience against disruptions.
Drayage’s Role in the Supply Chain
Drayage plays a critical role in the “first mile” and “last mile” of the supply chain, ensuring smooth transitions between long-distance transport and local distribution or collection points.
Key aspects of drayage’s role:
Intermodal connectivity: Drayage bridges the gap between different modes of transport, moving containers from ports to rail yards or from rail terminals to local warehouses.
Port congestion management: Efficient drayage services help alleviate port congestion by quickly moving containers in and out of port facilities.
Local distribution: Drayage facilitates the final leg of delivery, moving goods from distribution centers to local retailers or end consumers.
Just-in-time logistics: The speed and flexibility of drayage support just-in-time inventory strategies, allowing businesses to minimize warehousing costs.
Container management: Drayage services help optimize the use of shipping containers, ensuring their timely return and repositioning.
Supply chain visibility: Short-distance drayage movements provide real-time tracking and visibility for the critical last stages of the supply chain.
To illustrate the complementary roles of freight and drayage in the supply chain, consider the following comparison:
| Aspect | Freight’s Role | Drayage’s Role |
|---|---|---|
| Primary function | Long-distance transport | Short-distance, local movement |
| Supply chain stage | Mid-chain (origin to destination country/region) | First mile and last mile |
| Market reach | Global markets | Local markets and connections |
| Inventory impact | Influences overall inventory strategy | Supports just-in-time local inventory |
| Modal integration | Connects multiple long-distance modes | Bridges long-distance and local transport |
| Time horizon | Long-term planning and execution | Short-term, responsive operations |
| Supply chain visibility | Provides broad, long-distance tracking | Offers detailed local movement visibility |
Synergy between freight and drayage:
While freight and drayage serve distinct roles, their synergy is crucial for an efficient end-to-end supply chain:
Seamless transitions: Drayage ensures smooth handoffs between long-distance freight and local distribution networks.
Optimized container utilization: Efficient drayage operations complement freight services by ensuring timely container movements and returns.
Enhanced flexibility: The combination of freight and drayage allows businesses to adapt to changing market conditions and consumer demands.
Improved cost-effectiveness: Strategic use of both services can optimize overall logistics costs by leveraging the strengths of each.
End-to-end visibility: Integrating freight and drayage operations provides comprehensive supply chain visibility from origin to final destination.
Understanding the distinct yet complementary roles of freight and drayage is essential for businesses to create efficient, resilient supply chains. While freight forms the backbone of long-distance, often international, goods movement, drayage provides the critical local connections that complete the logistics puzzle. Together, they enable the seamless flow of goods from manufacturers to end consumers, supporting global trade and local economies alike.
How do businesses choose between freight and drayage services?
Selecting between freight and drayage services is a critical decision for businesses looking to optimize their supply chain operations. The choice depends on various factors, including the nature of the goods, distance of transport, time sensitivity, and overall logistics strategy. Understanding the considerations involved in this decision-making process is crucial for efficient and cost-effective transportation management.
Factors influencing the choice between freight and drayage:
Distance of transport:
Freight is the preferred choice for long-distance transportation, typically over 50 miles or across international borders.
Drayage is ideal for short-distance moves, usually within 50 miles, focusing on local transport and intermodal connections.
Volume of goods:
Freight services are more suitable for large volumes of goods, offering economies of scale for bulk shipments.
Drayage is often used for smaller shipments or individual containers, providing flexibility for varying load sizes.
Time sensitivity:
For urgent, time-critical shipments over long distances, air freight might be the best option.
Drayage offers quick turnaround times for local movements, supporting just-in-time logistics.
Type of cargo:
Freight services can handle a wide variety of cargo types, including bulk commodities, oversized items, and hazardous materials.
Drayage typically focuses on containerized cargo and standard truckload shipments.
Intermodal requirements:
If the shipment requires transitions between different modes of transport (e.g., sea to rail to truck), a combination of freight and drayage services may be necessary.
Cost considerations:
Freight costs can be more economical for large volumes over long distances.
Drayage offers more predictable pricing for local moves but may be costlier per mile for very short distances.
Supply chain strategy:
Businesses with global supply chains will rely heavily on freight services for international transport.
Companies focusing on local or regional distribution may prioritize efficient drayage operations.
Regulatory compliance:
International freight requires navigation of complex customs and regulatory requirements.
Drayage typically involves simpler compliance issues, focusing on local transportation regulations.
To help businesses make informed decisions, consider the following decision matrix:
| Scenario | Recommended Service | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| International shipment of bulk goods | Freight | Long distance, large volume, customs requirements |
| Moving containers from port to local warehouse | Drayage | Short distance, intermodal connection |
| Urgent delivery of high-value goods across countries | Air Freight | Time-sensitive, long distance |
| Distribution from regional DC to local retailers | Drayage | Short distance, flexible scheduling |
| Oversized machinery transport across states | Specialized Freight | Long distance, special handling requirements |
| Daily supply runs to manufacturing plants | Drayage | Regular, short-distance movements |
| Seasonal inventory stockpiling from overseas | Ocean Freight | Large volume, cost-effective for non-urgent goods |
| Last-mile delivery in urban areas | Drayage | Short distance, navigating local traffic |
Best practices for choosing between freight and drayage:
Conduct a thorough needs assessment: Evaluate the specific requirements of each shipment, including distance, volume, time sensitivity, and special handling needs.
Consider total logistics costs: Look beyond just transportation fees to include factors like inventory carrying costs, potential delays, and administrative overhead.
Evaluate supply chain impact: Consider how the choice between freight and drayage will affect overall supply chain efficiency and responsiveness.
Leverage technology: Utilize transportation management systems (TMS) to analyze routes, compare costs, and optimize mode selection.
Build relationships with providers: Develop partnerships with both freight and drayage service providers to ensure flexibility and access to capacity when needed.
Monitor performance: Regularly assess the performance of chosen services against key metrics like on-time delivery, cost-effectiveness, and damage rates.
Stay informed about market conditions: Keep abreast of changes in fuel prices, capacity constraints, and regulatory updates that may impact the choice between freight and drayage.
Consider sustainability goals: Evaluate the environmental impact of different transportation options, which may influence the choice between modes.
By carefully considering these factors and following best practices, businesses can make informed decisions between freight and drayage services. The right choice will depend on the specific needs of each shipment and how it fits into the overall supply chain strategy. In many cases, an effective logistics operation will involve a strategic combination of both freight and drayage services, leveraging the strengths of each to create a seamless, efficient flow of goods from origin to destination.