A Long Beach drayage quote can include a base transportation charge and separate amounts for fuel, chassis, port fees, or extra services. There is no universal line-item layout or carrier-wide surcharge formula. Compare quotes by the move details, what each amount covers, and the event that triggers any additional charge, not by the total alone.
Confirm the move details before comparing prices
A quote is only meaningful when it describes the same job. Check the terminal, container size and weight, pickup and delivery locations, loaded or empty status, appointment needs, delivery window, and whether the shipment includes an empty return. A change in any of these can change the work or the charges.
Ask whether the price is a firm amount for a defined move or an estimate subject to conditions. The written quote should also identify when it expires and which terms govern charges that occur after dispatch. Do not assume that two quotes with similar labels include the same work.
A useful comparison sheet has one column for each carrier and a row for every charge. Record the quoted amount, the unit it applies to, whether it is fixed or variable, and the written trigger. This makes missing assumptions visible before the container is ready.
The transportation or line-haul charge covers a defined move
The base charge, sometimes called line haul, should describe the transportation service being quoted. It may cover one terminal pickup and one delivery, but the name alone does not tell you whether an empty return, a second stop, a yard move, or a waiting period is included.
Ask for the exact origin and destination, the container type, and the services included in the line. If your facility cannot receive the container on the planned day, ask whether the quote includes a pre-pull to a yard or whether storage and a later delivery would be separate. Get the answer in writing.
For a move through the Port of Long Beach, compare the proposed service with the carrier’s Long Beach drayage service and make sure the quote uses the terminal and delivery location you actually need. A general service description is not a substitute for a move-specific confirmation.
Fuel surcharges depend on the quoted formula
A fuel surcharge is an adjustment that some carriers list separately from transportation. The quote should say whether one applies, how it is calculated, which fuel index or other basis is used, how often it changes, and which parts of the bill it applies to. Carriers can set different formulas, so a percentage from one quote cannot be compared directly with a dollar amount from another without the calculation basis.
Also check whether the price is all-in. If the transportation amount already includes fuel, adding a separate surcharge could count it twice. If fuel is billed separately, ask which date or index value controls the charge and whether a cap or rate-confirmation term applies.
Do not treat the phrase “fuel included” as enough detail. Ask the carrier to show the amount or explain how the total changes when the underlying index changes. The goal is to understand the quote, not to assume every carrier uses the same method.
Chassis charges depend on equipment and contract terms
A chassis is the wheeled frame that carries a container on the road. A quote may include chassis use, a chassis split, or a daily charge if equipment stays out beyond agreed free time. These are not interchangeable items. A split can involve extra handling when the chassis and container are not available together; a daily equipment charge depends on the applicable provider or interchange terms.
Ask who provides the chassis, how many free days apply, when the clock starts and stops, and which rate schedule governs any later charge. Confirm whether the quote includes a chassis for the full move or whether the arrangement can change based on availability. A missing chassis line does not prove that the equipment is free.
Our demurrage, detention and per diem guide explains why container and chassis clocks should be checked separately. A quote should identify the equipment charge in a way that you can match to the equipment record and the written terms.
Separate port-program rates from the carrier’s service charge
Two port-program charges may appear on a Long Beach move, but they do not have identical rules or payers. The Traffic Mitigation Fee (TMF) schedule effective August 1, 2026 lists $40.63 for a 20-foot container and $81.26 for other container sizes on nonexempt moves. The WCMTOA schedule lists the applicable move types and exemptions.
The Clean Truck Fund (CTF) rate is separate. The published rate is $10 per TEU for eligible loaded containers. Port guidance assigns payment to the beneficial cargo owner or authorized agent through PortCheck, and says truck drivers may not be charged the CTF rate. Truck exemptions also differ from TMF exemptions. Review the current Port of Los Angeles CTF guidance and the San Pedro Bay Ports fact sheet.
Do not assume a carrier paid both fees and passed them through. Ask whether a line is a port charge, a payment handled through another system, or a separate contractual service charge. Check the container, terminal, date, size, truck eligibility, and supporting record. For details on the two programs, see the current port-fee guides.
Conditional charges should name their trigger
Some charges apply only if a specific event occurs. Examples can include waiting time, a chassis split, a pre-pull, storage, a failed delivery, or a return trip. Whether a charge is owed and how it is calculated depend on the agreement and the records for that move.
For each conditional line, ask what event starts it, what timestamp proves that event, whether there is any free time, what unit is billed, and who must authorize the service. A line such as “accessorials as incurred” is not a complete explanation. Ask for the applicable schedule or rate-confirmation language before dispatch.
Keep carrier charges separate from charges billed by a steamship line, terminal, chassis provider, or port program. Similar wording can describe different services and different clocks. Our guide to reducing drayage costs covers the operational choices that can reduce avoidable work without assuming that every added charge is within the carrier’s control.
Compare two quotes in writing
Before choosing a carrier, confirm these items side by side:
| Check | What to compare |
|---|---|
| Move scope | Same terminal, container, weight, stops, and delivery address |
| Base service | Included pickup, delivery, empty return, yard move, and appointment work |
| Fuel | Formula, index or basis, update date, and whether the quote is all-in |
| Chassis | Provider, free time, split trigger, and applicable rate schedule |
| Port fees | TMF and CTF identified separately, with eligibility and payment records |
| Conditional items | Trigger, clock, unit, authorization, and supporting documentation |
Then request a revised quote if any assumption is unclear. A lower total is not a better comparison when one quote includes an empty return and another does not, or when one lists a variable charge and the other leaves it unstated.
Frequently asked questions
Why do drayage quotes use different line items?
Carriers can structure quotes differently, and the scope of the move may differ. One price may combine transportation and fuel while another lists them separately. Chassis, port-program fees, waiting, and other services can also be treated differently. Compare the written inclusions, calculation basis, and triggers rather than assuming that similar labels mean the same thing.
Is a fuel surcharge always included in drayage?
No single formula or presentation applies to every carrier. A surcharge may be shown separately, included in an all-in amount, or calculated under a contract-specific rule. Ask for the basis, update frequency, and part of the bill to which it applies. Confirm that an amount already included in the line haul is not also being added as a separate charge.
Should TMF and CTF appear on the same carrier invoice?
Not necessarily. TMF and CTF have different rules and payment paths. The TMF is assessed under the WCMTOA schedule, while the CTF is paid by the beneficial cargo owner or authorized agent through PortCheck. Check the move, exemption, contract, and payment record before assuming both fees should appear as carrier pass-throughs.
What should a quote say about chassis per diem?
Ask which chassis is covered, who provides it, when free time starts and ends, and which schedule sets any daily amount. Also ask how a split is defined and what extra trip or handling it covers. The invoice label alone does not identify the equipment or prove that the charge matches the agreed terms.
When you have a quote that is unclear, ask the carrier to identify each line, its basis, and its trigger before the move. For a Long Beach shipment, you can request a drayage quote.
