Port of Vancouver drayage rates
Vancouver is Canada's largest port and its drayage market is shaped by a hard geographic squeeze: the terminals sit in Burrard Inlet and Deltaport, the warehouses sit in Surrey, Delta and Langley, and everything in between is bridge-constrained. Vancouver also runs a truck licensing system, so the carrier pool that can legally serve the terminals is smaller and more tightly regulated than at a US gateway.
Base rate by container size and distance
| Container | 0-30 mi | 30-60 mi | 60-150 mi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20' standard | $446 | $612 | $914 |
| 40' / 40' HC | $525 | $720 | $1,075 |
| 45' HC | $578 | $792 | $1,183 |
How to read this. These are QuoteFleet's researched base drayage tariffs for Port of Vancouver — 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 Vancouver
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 Vancouver →
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 Vancouver | Vancouver Fraser Port Authority | Centerm, Centennial Rd, Vancouver, BC V6A |
Common questions
Why is Vancouver drayage more expensive than a comparable US port?
A licensed and capped truck pool, bridge-constrained geography, and higher operating costs. The licensing system in particular means you cannot simply add capacity when volumes spike.
Does the rate cover both Centerm and Deltaport?
Yes, but they are on opposite sides of the harbour. A Deltaport pull to a Surrey warehouse is a very different drive from a Centerm pull to the same place, so confirm the terminal before you commit to a ring.
Are these rates in Canadian dollars?
The tariff is published in USD like the rest of our table. Confirm the settlement currency with the carrier — Canadian drayage is commonly invoiced in CAD.
Next steps
Price a specific move with the free drayage rate calculator, browse carriers serving Port of Vancouver. New to the terminology? The freight glossary covers drayage, detention and demurrage and chassis splits.