Best Drayage Companies: What Actually Matters (2026)
Search "best drayage companies" and you'll find directories listing the biggest asset-based fleets. But the biggest isn't the best for most importers — the best drayage is whatever reliably moves your box before the free-time clock runs out. Here's what actually matters.
Asset-based vs. brokered drayage
Asset-based carriers (J.B. Hunt, IMC, Hub Group and the like) own their trucks and dominate volume at specific ports. A drayage broker arranges capacity across many carriers, which means broader port coverage and the flexibility to flex with your volume. For importers who ship through more than one gateway, that coverage usually beats being tied to one fleet's lanes.
What actually separates good drayage
- Terminal-level knowledge at the ports you use — appointment systems and congestion differ by terminal.
- Free-time discipline — tracking your Last Free Day and pulling before demurrage hits.
- Communication — you hear about a hold before it's a fee.
- One accountable contact instead of a rotating queue.
How to choose
Ask who works the specific terminal your box lands at, how they track free time, and who you call at 6pm when something's stuck. The right answer to those questions matters more than fleet size. See how BRS handles drayage at every major U.S. port.