Container Drayage in Savannah: What Shippers Need to Know in 2026

The Port of Savannah handled over 4.9 million TEUs in 2025, making it the third-largest container gateway in the United States and the fastest-growing port on the East Coast. For shippers moving import and export containers through the Southeast, Savannah is not just a port — it is a strategic logistics hub that connects to the Midwest, the South, and the entire Eastern seaboard via rail and interstate corridors.

Container drayage is the critical first and last mile of the international supply chain. It is the movement of containerized freight between the port terminal and an inland destination — typically a warehouse, distribution center, rail yard, or consignee facility. When drayage breaks down, the entire supply chain feels the impact: missed appointments, detention charges, demurrage fees, and delayed deliveries to end customers.

Core Logistics Group operates daily in the Savannah port corridor, coordinating container pickups, empty returns, chassis management, and appointment scheduling. This guide consolidates what every shipper should understand about drayage in Savannah in 2026.

Savannah’s container operations are centered at the Garden City Terminal, operated by the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA). The terminal features over 1,200 acres of container yard space, 9,700 feet of contiguous berth, and direct on-dock rail service via CSX and Norfolk Southern. In 2025, GPA completed a major berth expansion adding 1.5 million TEUs of annual capacity.

For drayage truckers, the terminal is accessible via Interstate 16 and Interstate 95, with dedicated truck routes that minimize congestion. However, peak volume periods — particularly during peak season (August through October) and post-Chinese New Year import surges — can create gate queues that stretch 45 minutes or longer.

Key operational concepts every shipper should understand:

• Appointment Windows: GPA requires truckers to book terminal appointments through their web-based system. Appointments are released in rolling windows and fill quickly during high-volume periods.
• Last Free Day (LFD): The final day a container can sit in the terminal without incurring demurrage. Missing the LFD by even one day can cost $150–$300 per day depending on the carrier.
• Chassis Pools: Savannah operates under the South Atlantic Chassis Pool (SACP). Chassis availability can tighten during surge periods, requiring advance coordination.
• Empty Return Requirements: Each ocean carrier specifies approved empty return facilities. Returning to the wrong location triggers redelivery fees and wasted driver hours.

Many shippers underestimate the financial impact of drayage mismanagement. It is not just the per-mile or per-move rate that matters — it is the cascade of avoidable charges that accumulate when coordination fails.

Common cost drivers in Savannah drayage:

• Demurrage: Charged by the ocean carrier when a container stays in the terminal beyond the free time. Rates range from $100–$350 per day depending on container size and carrier.
• Detention: Charged when a container is out of the terminal but not returned empty within the free time allowed (typically 3–5 business days). Detention can exceed $75 per day.
• Per Diem: Charged for chassis usage beyond the free period. Chassis per diem in Savannah averages $25–$35 per day.
• Redelivery / Reuse: When an empty container is returned to the wrong facility or rejected, the trucker must redeliver — often at 1.5x–2x the original move rate.
• Waiting Time: Most drayage carriers allow 1–2 hours of free waiting time at pickup or delivery. Beyond that, waiting fees of $50–$75 per hour apply.

A single poorly coordinated import move can accumulate $800–$1,500 in avoidable accessorial charges. For high-volume shippers, that multiplies quickly.

Core Logistics Group takes a disciplined approach to Savannah drayage that prioritizes appointment accuracy, chassis visibility, and proactive communication.

Our process includes:

• Appointment Monitoring: We track appointment availability in real time and book slots the moment they open. For time-sensitive moves, we maintain standing appointment requests.
• Chassis Coordination: Through partnerships with chassis providers and the South Atlantic Chassis Pool, we confirm chassis availability before dispatching drivers.
• LFD Tracking: Every container is monitored against its Last Free Day. We trigger action 48 hours before expiration to ensure no container sits past free time.
• Empty Return Verification: We validate empty return locations against carrier requirements before dispatch. If a carrier changes return instructions, we catch it before the driver leaves the yard.
• Driver Communication: Our dispatchers communicate gate wait times, terminal closures, and chassis issues directly to drivers via mobile dispatch systems. Real-time updates reduce downtime.

Through our sister company, Southern Haulers, we also offer asset-based capacity for dedicated Savannah drayage programs. Asset-based drayage gives shippers guaranteed truck availability, consistent pricing, and direct accountability — advantages that brokered-only capacity cannot match during peak season.

Several emerging trends are reshaping drayage operations in Savannah this year:

• Increased Rail Drayage: GPA’s Mason Mega Rail Terminal has expanded Norfolk Southern and CSX capacity. More containers are moving inland by rail, reducing pure drayage demand but creating transloading opportunities near the port.
• Chassis Pool Consolidation: The industry continues consolidating chassis pools under the Federal Maritime Commission’s chassis choice rules. Shippers should verify that their drayage provider has access to the correct pool for each carrier.
• Electric and Low-Emission Trucks: California-style emission regulations are not yet in force in Georgia, but GPA has announced voluntary clean truck programs. Forward-thinking shippers may benefit from selecting drayage providers with modern, low-emission fleets.
• Peak Season Volume Surges: Tariff uncertainty and inventory restocking are driving higher-than-expected import volumes in early 2026. Shippers should lock drayage capacity agreements before peak season rather than chasing spot market rates.

Not every logistics provider that claims "Savannah drayage" delivers the same level of execution. When evaluating a drayage partner, shippers should ask:

• Do you have direct port experience at GPA Garden City Terminal?
• Can you provide references from current Savannah-based customers?
• How do you manage chassis availability and per diem tracking?
• What is your average gate wait time, and how do you communicate delays?
• Do you offer asset-based capacity, or is everything brokered?
• How do you handle after-hours and weekend moves?
• What is your process for managing Last Free Day and detention risk?

The right drayage partner should answer these questions with specificity, not vague assurances. At Core Logistics Group, we welcome these conversations because disciplined execution is the foundation of our operation.

Savannah drayage does not have to be complicated. With the right partner, shippers can move containers through GPA efficiently, avoid surprise charges, and maintain reliable delivery schedules to their customers.

Core Logistics Group offers container drayage, freight brokerage, and 3PL services across the Southeast port corridor. Whether you need a single move or a dedicated drayage program, we bring port fluency, carrier accountability, and execution discipline to every shipment.

Contact Core Logistics Group for a Savannah drayage quote or to discuss your port logistics needs.