Port of Halifax drayage rates
Halifax is the first inbound and last outbound call on many North Atlantic services and can take the largest vessels without tidal restriction. Its local drayage market is genuinely small — the Halifax metro is the demand base, and most volume leaves on CN rail rather than a chassis — so the practical question here is carrier availability rather than price band.
Base rate by container size and distance
| Container | 0-30 mi | 30-60 mi | 60-150 mi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20' standard | $361 | $489 | $744 |
| 40' / 40' HC | $425 | $575 | $875 |
| 45' HC | $468 | $633 | $963 |
How to read this. These are QuoteFleet's researched base drayage tariffs for Port of Halifax — 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 Halifax
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 Halifax →
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 Halifax | Halifax Port Authority (PSA Halifax) | PSA Halifax, 100 Marginal Rd, Halifax, NS B3H |
Common questions
How large is the Halifax drayage pool?
Small compared with any US gateway of similar TEU rank, because most containers leave Halifax by rail. Book early; the constraint is trucks available, not the tariff.
What is inside the 60-150 mile ring from Halifax?
Truro at roughly 60 miles and the corridor toward Amherst. Moncton, at about 110 miles, is inside the outer band; Saint John is a separate gateway.
Does the rate include the rail alternative?
No. This tariff prices the truck move only. If your box is railing inland from Halifax, the dray you pay for happens at the destination ramp instead.
Next steps
Price a specific move with the free drayage rate calculator, browse carriers serving Port of Halifax. New to the terminology? The freight glossary covers drayage, detention and demurrage and chassis splits.