Port of Prince Rupert drayage rates
Prince Rupert is the outlier on this list and the reason its tariff is the highest: it is a transload-and-rail gateway with the shortest sailing from Asia to North America, but almost no local demand base. Over 90% of its containers leave directly on CN rail. Local drayage exists mainly to serve the transload facilities, so the pool is tiny and prices reflect scarcity, not distance.
Base rate by container size and distance
| Container | 0-30 mi | 30-60 mi | 60-150 mi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20' standard | $489 | $723 | $1,063 |
| 40' / 40' HC | $575 | $850 | $1,250 |
| 45' HC | $633 | $935 | $1,375 |
How to read this. These are QuoteFleet's researched base drayage tariffs for Port of Prince Rupert — 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.
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 Prince Rupert | DP World / Prince Rupert Port Authority | Fairview Container Terminal, Prince Rupert, BC V8J |
Common questions
Why is Prince Rupert the most expensive gateway on this list?
Scarcity. There is very little local freight demand to balance a truck against, so a carrier cannot easily fill a return leg. That imbalance, not mileage, sets the price.
Should I be draying out of Prince Rupert at all?
Usually not. The port exists to move boxes onto CN rail toward Chicago, Memphis and Toronto. If your cargo is not transloading locally, the dray you actually need is at the inland ramp.
What is within 150 miles?
Terrace at roughly 90 miles, and very little else. This is the thinnest local market of any gateway we publish a tariff for.
Next steps
Price a specific move with the free drayage rate calculator, browse carriers serving Port of Prince Rupert. New to the terminology? The freight glossary covers drayage, detention and demurrage and chassis splits.