Hawaiʻi Drayage Trucking Company: Freight Tips From the Pros

The Role of Drayage in Hawaiʻi

Because so many Hawaiʻi businesses rely on cargo that comes in through the ports, drayage is a critical connection in the supply chain. If you’re moving freight around the state, understanding Hawaiʻi drayage offers the opportunity to optimize the associated costs and pick the right provider to keep your Hawaiʻi supply chain moving smoothly. 

Drayage carriers also play a major role in Hawaiʻi interisland freight, since much of it moves by interisland barge. If you’re moving freight between islands, understanding Hawaiʻi drayage can help you control your costs as you keep all of your Hawaiʻi locations supplied.

Cost-Saving Drayage Tip: Ship Direct to Neighbor Islands

If your business operates locations on more than one island, consider choosing direct freight service to neighboring islands. Booking drayage can save you significant money.

Some businesses choose to send all their cargo to Oʻahu, use a drayage provider to pick up their container from the port and deliver it to a central warehouse, where all of the freight is unpacked. From there, they’ll repackage inventory for neighbor island locations, move it back to the port, and put that freight on an interisland barge headed for Kauaʻi, Maui, or the Big Island.

Choosing direct service means segregating out freight by island at its origin point—at a mainland freight forwarder’s warehouse, for example. Then, when freight arrives at Honolulu Harbor, freight bound for Kauaʻi, Maui, or the Big Island can be immediately transshipped to an interisland barge without leaving the port.

It’s easy to see how this method would instantly reduce your drayage costs since you’d save a trip to and from that central Oʻahu warehouse. You’d also save on labor and warehousing expenses since you won’t need to unload and repack your freight. Finally, your freight will arrive on neighboring islands faster since it no longer has to take a detour to an Oʻahu warehouse.

To learn more about shipping direct to Hawaiʻi’s neighboring islands, reach out to one of our Hawaiʻi freight experts.

How to Find the Right Hawaiʻi Drayage Provider

Given the importance of drayage to any Hawaiʻi supply chain, it’s critical to pick the right provider to keep your cargo moving on time—and on budget.  

When you’re vetting a Hawaiʻi drayage provider, here’s what our freight experts suggest looking for: 

Trucking companies in Hawaiʻi can either be asset-based or use agents. Asset-based drayage providers own their own fleet of trailers and employ their own crews. Providers that use agents essentially outsource drayage jobs to another provider.

Because they’re using their own equipment and crews, asset-based Hawaiʻi drayage providers have more control over their schedules. That translates to prompt port pickup and prompt delivery of your freight. It also makes it easier for you to get the delivery times you’re looking for, since there’s no middle-man between you and the delivery provider.

Bonus Tip: Look for a provider with a variety of vehicles in their fleet. Many businesses in Hawaiʻi don’t have the room to park a container. If your drayage provider also owns a box truck or a van, they can unload your freight in their warehouse and pack it into a vehicle that can more easily access your location, minimizing the possibility of damage to your freight.

A warehouse gives a drayage provider a dedicated place to unload your freight and pack it into a smaller vehicle, as needed. If there’s no room at your place of business to park and unload a container, this can be a bit benefit.

Additionally, a drayage provider with a warehouse can also offer you another advantage: storage services. Whether you need a short-term solution for the times when you’re not quite ready to receive your freight or a long-term space to store backstock, a drayage provider who can assist will simplify your logistics. Some providers only have enough space for temporary storage, while others have complete warehousing solutions that can act as mini-distribution centers for your business.

Consider your business’s needs now (and into the future!) and ask your drayage provider if storage and warehousing are options.

A Hawaiʻi drayage provider that can offer a full suite of services can significantly simplify your logistics. Instead of having to coordinate multiple providers—including calling around for quotes and checking availability—an all-in-one provider can handle all of this for you.

Look for an all-in-one logistics provider that:

• Covers all four major islands, so they can handle interisland freight and neighbor island shipments.
• Connects you with both ocean freight and air freight solutions, which means more flexibility for moving freight at the speed of business.
• Delivers all kinds of trucking solutions that go beyond simple port drayage. A provider that can pick up and deliver freight anywhere in Hawaiʻi will be a useful partner to have.

Additionally, if there’s just one company handling all of this for you, there’s a lower chance of miscommunication or freight bottlenecks, since everything will be handled under the same roof.

Easy, Efficient Hawaiʻi Drayage Solutions

With a better understanding of Hawaiʻi drayage—and what to look for in a provider—you’re perfectly positioned to streamline your Hawaiʻi supply chain, reduce your freight bills, and maximize your efficiencies.

If you’re looking for an all-in-one freight provider who can assist with Hawaiʻi drayage solutions, the Royal Hawaiian team would be happy to help. Just reach out to one of our Hawaiʻi freight experts for a complimentary quote to get started.

About DeWitt: Hawaii’s Premier Drayage Trucking Company

Since 1927, our family-owned operation has evolved into one of Hawaii’s most trusted names in transportation and logistics. Operating across all major Hawaiian islands, our extensive network includes state-of-the-art facilities, a diverse fleet of vehicles, and over 300,000 square feet of technical storage and warehouse space. We take pride in our deep understanding of Hawaii’s unique shipping landscape and our ability to provide customized drayage solutions that meet the distinct needs of local businesses.

What sets us apart is our comprehensive approach to logistics. As an asset-based provider with terminals on every major Hawaiian island, we deliver the reliability and flexibility your supply chain demands. Our experienced team brings decades of local expertise to every shipment, ensuring your cargo moves efficiently through Hawaii’s port system.

Ready to optimize your Hawaii drayage operations? Contact our team of freight experts today for a complimentary consultation. We’ll show you how our integrated solutions can streamline your supply chain and reduce your logistics costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find shippers for drayage?

Finding reliable drayage shippers requires partnering with an established logistics provider that specializes in port and rail terminal operations. Expert drayage providers maintain strong relationships with ports, terminals, and customs officials while offering comprehensive container management services. The most qualified providers will have extensive experience with both import and export drayage and the necessary equipment and infrastructure to handle time-sensitive port movements.

What is the difference between a trucker and a drayage trucker?

Traditional truckers and drayage truckers serve distinctly different roles in the supply chain ecosystem. While regular truckers typically focus on moving containerized freight over long distances between cities and states, drayage truckers specialize in short-distance container transport between ports, rail yards, and nearby warehouses. Drayage trucking requires specialized knowledge of port operations, customs procedures, and container handling, along with specific certifications and security clearances.

Is intermodal trucking worth it?

Intermodal transportation offers significant advantages for businesses shipping freight over long distances or to remote locations. By combining trucking with rail and ocean shipping, intermodal services provide cost-effective solutions while reducing environmental impact through optimized routing and shared resources. For destinations like Hawaii, Alaska, and Guam, intermodal transportation delivers reliable and efficient service by leveraging the strengths of multiple shipping modes.