How we run a container

The operational walkthrough, end to end.

No mystery, no special sauce. Just the actual sequence of steps every Charleston drayage move passes through, and what we commit to at each step.

1. Booking received

You send us a booking, MBL, or release notice — typically by email or directly through your TMS. We confirm container size, type, steamship line, terminal, weight, and any specialty notes (reefer, hazmat, OOG, OW). If anything is missing, we ask once.

2. Releases verified

Three releases get checked before any truck rolls: customs release (1C on file), freight release (line lifts the freight hold), and line holds (any other hold — exam, demurrage, equipment). If any of the three are missing, we don't dispatch. We tell you what's missing and we wait.

3. Appointment booked

SCPA terminal slot booked when required. Delivery appointment confirmed at the consignee — we contact the warehouse, confirm a window, and lock it. If the consignee uses an appointment system (OneRail, Opendock, etc.) we book through it.

4. Driver dispatched

Driver gets a clean dispatch pack: container, terminal, gate appointment, delivery address, contact info, special instructions, and your reference number. The driver is matched to the equipment — overweight goes to drivers used to tri-axle, reefer goes to drivers experienced with genset.

5. Container moves

Driver arrives at the terminal, runs the gate transaction, hooks the chassis. We capture the EIR. GPS tracks the move. We monitor terminal status and chassis pool location in real time and route around problems instead of getting stuck in them.

6. Delivery

Live unload, drop-and-hook, or transload, per your spec. Driver waits on signature for live; bobtails away after drop. We text or email the moment delivery completes.

7. Empty return

Empty container returned the same day when possible — that's the lever that stops per diem fastest. Empty receipt captured and forwarded.

8. POD & close

Signed BOL imaged and emailed back the day of delivery. The PDF is named with your reference number, the container number, and the delivery date. The file gets archived in our records, ready for any audit pull.

What you get back from us, every move

  • EIR / gate transaction at pickup
  • ETA updates while in transit
  • Signed BOL / POD at delivery, same-day imaged
  • Empty return receipt
  • Itemized invoice with linehaul, chassis, fuel, accessorials clearly broken out

Need a container moved?

Send the booking, terminal, and delivery ZIP. We'll come back with a quote — usually inside the hour during business hours.