Today’s leading providers of harbor drayage services reflect not only how the industry has evolved over the centuries, but also how the commitment to provide on-time, exceptional customer service in the seamless movement of customer products has remained the same. Here is a look at some of the historic highlights of the industry:

The term drayage comes from the word “dray” –  the name for a horse-driven cart with low sides used to transport goods a short distance, such as from a dock to a larger wagon or rail car. The container drayage industry has been around since the first ships carried goods from one port to another. There has always been a need to offload ships and move cargo to a distribution center or transportation system capable of moving items long distances. As technology evolved, trucks eventually replaced the “dray” horses in the early 1900s, providing more power and the ability to move goods more quickly. Computerized tracking systems and low-emission trucks are the current focus to improve service and lessen the impact on the environment.

One thing that companies never had in the time of horses and wagons were the new computerized drayage management systems that help track cargo from the time it leaves a ship until the final delivery. Companies that either can’t afford or choose not to utilize computer tracking systems are falling behind in the competition to provide the most comprehensive service at ports. Thanks to the success of UPS and FedEx in providing tracking data to residential customers, commercial firms expect the same ability from a container drayage company. It’s important to be able to provide proof of delivery or the status of a shipment whenever a customer requests it. The best drayage firms can point to the location of an item whether it is on a truck or in a warehouse, providing customers with confidence and peace-of-mind.

Back in the days of the dray horse, about the only environmental concern was who was going to shovel up any droppings left behind. With the emphasis on climate change and the push to cut carbon emissions, today’s drayage companies are challenged to meet environmental standards while still delivering goods on time. The SmartWay Drayage Program is a movement that looks to clean up the environment around ports. As the brainchild of the EPA, Environmental Defense Fund and Coalition for Responsible Transportation, the SmartWay Program calls on all port industries to contribute to solving the problem of foul air. Newer trucks with cleaner emissions are one answer to the problem, but that obviously puts an economic burden on the shoulder of the container drayage companies. The program will offer incentives to companies that meet emission standards, helping to offset some of the cost. Truckers are tasked with reducing particulate matter emissions by at least 50% and nitrous oxide by 25% within three years.

Although technology has improved the ability to track cargo, the one thing that hasn’t changed over the years is the importance of delivering goods on time. Even though a container of goods may have originated deep in the Chinese mainland before beginning a two-week journey hampered by rough seas and bad weather, it’s that last mile that is the ultimate test of the best drayage services. While mega vessels, terminal hours, and many other factors may contribute to a shipment’s delay, the top-notch drayage services of today will continue not only to evolve to meet the challenges, but also to implement new and state-of-the-art ways to surpass them.

今天，领先的港口拖运服务供应商不仅反映了该行业几个世纪以来的发展，也反映了在客户产品的无缝运输中提供准时、卓越的客户服务的承诺是如何保持不变的。下面我们来看看这个行业的一些历史亮点。

拖运与航运业一样古老

拖运一词来自于 "dray"--一种由马匹驱动的低边小车，用于短距离运输货物，如从码头到较大的马车或铁路车厢。自从第一艘船将货物从一个港口运到另一个港口，集装箱拖运业就已经存在。一直以来，人们都需要卸下船只，将货物运送到配送中心或能够长距离运送物品的运输系统。随着技术的发展，卡车最终在20世纪初取代了 "拖运 "马匹，提供了更多的动力和更快的货物运输能力。计算机跟踪系统和低排放卡车是目前的重点，以改善服务和减少对环境的影响。

拖运管理系统跟踪货物

在马和马车的时代，公司从来没有过的一件事是新的电脑化拖运管理系统，它有助于跟踪货物从离开船只到最后交付的过程。那些买不起或选择不利用计算机跟踪系统的公司，在港口提供最全面服务的竞争中落伍了。由于UPS和FedEx在向住宅客户提供跟踪数据方面的成功，商业公司期望从集装箱拖运公司获得同样的能力。只要客户提出要求，就能提供交货证明或货物状态，这一点很重要。最好的拖运公司可以指出物品的位置，无论它是在卡车上还是在仓库里，为客户提供信心和安心的感觉。

环境是一个相对较新的问题

在拖运马的时代，唯一的环境问题是谁来铲除留下的粪便。随着对气候变化的重视和减少碳排放的推动，今天的拖运公司面临着在满足环境标准的同时还要按时交货的挑战。智能运输计划是一项旨在清洁港口周围环境的运动。作为环保局、环境保护基金和负责任运输联盟的创意，智能运输计划呼吁所有港口行业为解决空气污浊问题作出贡献。排放更清洁的新型卡车是问题的答案之一，但这显然使集装箱运输公司承担了经济负担。该计划将为达到排放标准的公司提供奖励，帮助抵消部分成本。卡车司机的任务是在三年内将颗粒物排放减少至少50%，将氧化亚氮减少25%。

最后一英里是最重要的一英里

虽然技术已经改善了追踪货物的能力，但多年来没有改变的一点是按时交货的重要性。尽管一个集装箱的货物可能来自中国大陆深处，然后开始为期两周的旅程，并受到风浪和恶劣天气的阻碍，但最后一英里才是对最佳拖运服务的最终考验。虽然超大型船舶、码头时间和许多其他因素可能导致货物延误，但当今一流的拖运服务不仅将继续发展以应对挑战，而且还将实施新的和最先进的方法来超越它们。


这个词的原意是 "用无边的马车运输"，或称 "dray"。这种车由拖曳马匹拉动，用于短距离运输货物，受到拖曳马匹的身体限制。拖车活动一般发生在海港，并扩散到运河和铁路码头。随着时间的推移，拖曳马被半挂牵引车所取代。

对拖运的研究是一个相对较新的领域，因为最近的事件提升了拖运业的地位。在经济上，北美自由贸易协定和全球化贸易的增长大大增加了用海运集装箱运输的进口和出口。此外，燃料成本的上升也限制了供应链上削减成本的选择。虽然拖运是供应链中一个非常小的组成部分（在时间和距离方面），但其成本和潜在的问题会不成比例地高。

各种利益集团开始意识到拖运的影响。例如，环保主义者试图通过监管拖运活动来减少港口卡车的污染。在燃料价格飙升的冲击下，企业更加意识到港口拥堵的成本和有关司机服务时间的规定。公共安全倡导者担心，在正常工作时间内使用城市街道的拖运卡车，"监管不足，对通勤者构成威胁"。最后，有组织的劳工对卡车运输业的议价能力表示担忧，因为据称拖运司机是 "低价承运人"。

在多式联运中，海上拖运是由专门的卡车公司在海港或铁路坡道和航运码头之间运输集装箱货物。 [6][7] 一旦货物被装入集装箱，在到达目的地之前不会再被碰触。

根据物流业出版物FreightWaves，国内拖运业的传统参与者包括J.B. Hunt Transport Services、Hub Group、Schneider National、XPO Logistics和Swift Transportation。[9] 美国最大的海运拖运公司是IMC Companies。[10] 还有一些拖运技术初创公司，包括Dray Alliance、DrayNow和Book Your Cargo，他们创造了为拖运公司提供经纪服务的软件。


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