Port of Houston drayage rates
Houston drays out of Barbours Cut and Bayport, and the market is shaped by two things you do not see at the coastal container gateways: a very large resin and petrochemical export flow, and long dray distances inside the metro itself. The 30-mile ring from Barbours Cut does not reach the west-side warehouse parks, so a surprising share of Houston moves price off the 30-60 band.
Base rate by container size and distance
| Container | 0-30 mi | 30-60 mi | 60-150 mi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20' standard | $319 | $446 | $680 |
| 40' / 40' HC | $375 | $525 | $800 |
| 45' HC | $413 | $578 | $880 |
How to read this. These are QuoteFleet's researched base drayage tariffs for Port of Houston — a flat rate per container by distance ring, for the truck move only. They are an estimate band to sanity-check a quote against, not a market index, a spot rate, or an offer. Fuel, chassis, terminal fees and the accessorials listed below sit on top. Beyond 150 miles a move prices per-mile as linehaul rather than as drayage. Rates are USD for a standard dry container and move with fuel and market conditions.
Carrier supply at Port of Houston
Live counts from our FMCSA carrier directory, for operators whose registered domicile puts this gateway nearest. Equipment flags are as reported to FMCSA.
Browse all carriers near Port of Houston →
What sits on top of the base rate
Drayage invoices are rarely just the linehaul. These are the charges that most often appear, at our default schedule.
| Accessorial | Typical | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Chassis Rental | $40 / day | Daily chassis rental while the chassis is out (1-day minimum; some lanes 2-day). |
| Chassis Split (per occurrence) | $100 | Trucker has to pull a chassis from a different yard than the container. Charged per occurrence. |
| Pre Pull | $145 | Pre-pull container from terminal to yard before delivery. Applies if the container is not delivered same trip. |
| Flip Fee | $200 | Flip / lift to transfer the container between chassis or reposition it. |
| PierPass / TMF | $36 | Off-hours port traffic mitigation fee (LA/LB). |
| Port Congestion Surcharge | $75 | Surcharge for unusually slow terminal conditions or congestion. |
| Triaxle (3-axle, heavy/overweight) | $85 / day | Triaxle chassis (3 axles) required for heavy or overweight container moves — typically loads over ~37,550 lbs. |
| Detention (over free time) | $99 / hr | Per-hour charge after 2 hr free at pickup or delivery. |
| Yard Storage (per night) | $45 / day | Per night after the first 24 hr in our yard; also applies to empties if unable to return. |
| Drop & Hook | $150 | Live load not possible — drop, hook, leave. |
| Hazmat surcharge | 18% of base | For hazardous materials shipments. |
| Reefer / Genset | $75 / day | Refrigerated container needs a running genset (per day). |
| In-Bond | $250 | Customs in-bond move — charged per container. |
Terminals
| Terminal | Operator | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Port of Houston | Port Houston | Barbours Cut Container Terminal, 1515 E Barbours Cut Blvd, La Porte, TX 77571 |
Common questions
Why do so many Houston moves land in the 30-60 mile ring?
The container terminals sit on the east side of the ship channel while much of the warehouse and transload capacity is north and west of the city. Crossing Houston is what puts the move in the next band.
Do resin exports price differently?
The base ring is the same, but export resin usually adds a transload or bagging stop and often a scale ticket for weight verification. Those are accessorials, not a different linehaul.
Is Barbours Cut or Bayport cheaper?
They price the same. The two terminals are about eight miles apart and draw on the same carrier pool; the difference shows up in gate turn times, not the base tariff.
Next steps
Price a specific move with the free drayage rate calculator, browse carriers serving Port of Houston, or see every carrier in Texas. New to the terminology? The freight glossary covers drayage, detention and demurrage and chassis splits.