New York / New Jersey drayage rates
Port Newark-Elizabeth is the East Coast's largest gateway and its most expensive to dray, for reasons that are structural rather than seasonal: tolls, congestion on the Turnpike corridor, and a delivery footprint that crosses three states inside the 60-mile ring. A move into Brooklyn or Queens can cost more than one twice the distance into central New Jersey.
Base rate by container size and distance
| Container | 0-30 mi | 30-60 mi | 60-150 mi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20' standard | $446 | $591 | $893 |
| 40' / 40' HC | $525 | $695 | $1,050 |
| 45' HC | $578 | $765 | $1,155 |
How to read this. These are QuoteFleet's researched base drayage tariffs for New York / New Jersey — 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 New York / New Jersey
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 New York / New Jersey →
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 New York & New Jersey | Port Authority of NY & NJ | Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal, Elizabeth, NJ 07201 |
Common questions
Why does a short move into the boroughs price like a long one?
Bridge and tunnel tolls, restricted truck routes and dwell at the receiver. Distance is only one input — the New York rings assume a round turn, and a Brooklyn delivery rarely gives you one.
Which states fall inside the 60-mile ring from Port Newark?
Most of northern and central New Jersey, New York City and the lower Hudson Valley, and the eastern edge of Pennsylvania around Easton. Philadelphia and Allentown sit in the 60-150 band.
Is a triaxle chassis needed here?
For overweight containers, usually yes. New Jersey enforces axle weights tightly on the port approaches, so heavy boxes move on a triaxle and carry the surcharge in the table below.
Next steps
Price a specific move with the free drayage rate calculator, browse carriers serving New York / New Jersey, or see every carrier in New Jersey. New to the terminology? The freight glossary covers drayage, detention and demurrage and chassis splits.