Who hires the trucker for an import container: you or the line?
You or your forwarder hire the trucker when your ocean booking ends at CN Brampton or CPKC Vaughan: that is merchant haulage. The ocean line arranges the truck when it sells delivery to your door: that is carrier haulage.
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What is merchant haulage?
In shipping, merchant haulage means the cargo side arranges the inland truck, not the ocean line. The merchant is you or your forwarder.
For a rail move into the GTA, the ocean line's booking can stop at the inland ramp. Your supplier may have shipped on CFR or CIF terms. Or your forwarder booked the container only as far as the ramp.
The ocean and rail move then ends at CN Brampton or CPKC Vaughan. The truck from the ramp to your door is yours to arrange, and so is the empty return.
You choose the trucker and agree the rate. Your ocean line gives you or your customs broker a pickup number for that trucker.
- The place of delivery is a ramp
- The arrival notice names the ramp
- A pickup number for your trucker
- No drayage charge from the line
One sign is not proof. Ask your forwarder to confirm it in writing.
What is carrier haulage?
Carrier haulage means the ocean line arranges the inland move to your door as part of its service. The line chooses the trucker and charges for that leg.
The bill of lading then names your door, not a ramp, as the place of delivery. The line's charges cover the truck leg it arranged.
You do not hire a trucker for that move. Ask the line or your forwarder who will contact you to set the delivery, and give them your receiving hours.
Want your own trucker instead? Ask the line or your forwarder before the container arrives. The booking may have to change, and that is their call.
- Your door is the place of delivery
- A drayage or inland charge from the line
- Your forwarder says door delivery is booked
How do you know which one your booking is?
Who is responsible for drayage depends on the booking. Read the bill of lading and the arrival notice, then ask your forwarder.
Read the place of delivery
It is on the bill of lading. A ramp such as CN Brampton or CPKC Vaughan means the truck is yours to book. Your address means the line delivers.
Check the arrival notice
For a rail move, it names the inland ramp where the container waits. Read what to do with an arrival notice.
Look at the charges
A drayage or inland haulage line from the ocean line can mean a truck leg is already arranged. Ask what it covers.
Ask your forwarder
Ask in writing who books the truck from the ramp, and who returns the empty.
What is the drayage charge on your ocean invoice?
A drayage charge pays for a truck leg between a terminal and a door. On an ocean line's invoice, it is usually the truck the line arranged under carrier haulage.
A destination drayage charge is the same thing at the delivery end. It pays for the truck from the port or the ramp to your door.
Before you book your own trucker, ask your forwarder what that charge covers. Which leg is it, from where to where, and does it include the empty return?
A forwarder's invoice can show a drayage line too, when the forwarder booked the truck for you. The same rule applies: ask what it covers.
- Which leg?
- From where to where?
- Who returns the empty?
- Who is the trucker?
If the charge already covers the truck to your door, do not hire a second truck.
Who pays the trucker when you buy on CFR or CIF terms?
Often you do. The seller paid the ocean freight, and sometimes the rail leg to the ramp. The truck from the ramp to your door is often yours to book.
Check your sales contract and the place of delivery on the bill of lading. If it is CN Brampton or CPKC Vaughan, hire the trucker yourself or ask your forwarder to. Many importers who buy on CFR or CIF terms get an arrival notice with no trucker lined up.
How do you avoid booking the truck twice?
Settle who books the truck before the container reaches the ramp. Then make sure only one trucker has the pickup details.
Ask which haulage it is
Ask your forwarder in writing: merchant haulage or carrier haulage?
Read the invoices
Check the line's and the forwarder's invoices for a drayage or inland charge before you hire anyone.
Name one booker
One party books the truck: you, your forwarder or the line. Tell the others who it is.
Give one trucker the details
Only the trucker you hire gets the container number, the pickup number and the last free day.
What does Setara Transport do?
When the move from the ramp is yours to book, this is the part we run. Send us the container number and we tell you what is still missing.
- The container number
- The pickup number from your ocean line
- The ramp: CN Brampton or CPKC Vaughan
- The last free day
- The delivery address and receiving hours
- The cargo weight in each container
- Check the releases and holds, and tell you what is missing
- Book the pickup at the ramp: the CN Brampton gate appointment or the CPKC Vaughan pickup
- Pull the container and deliver it, live unload or drop
- Bring the empty back to the ramp or to a depot your ocean line names
Setara Transport is a carrier. It does not book rail, arrange freight forwarding or clear customs. Your customs broker requests the customs release.
Who books the truck questions.
What is merchant haulage?
What is carrier haulage?
What is a drayage charge on my ocean freight invoice?
Can I choose my own trucker for an import container?
Who arranges the truck when my booking ends at CN Brampton?
More answers for importers.
How do you choose a drayage carrier?
Questions to ask before you tenderWhat do you do with an arrival notice?
The releases and what to sendWhat does arrived at the ramp mean?
Each rail status, in plain wordsWhat do drayage terms mean?
Merchant haulage and more, in plain EnglishAll answers
Every answer for importers and forwardersBooking ends at the ramp? Send us the container number.
With the pickup number, the ramp and the last free day. We tell you what is still missing.