Port Congestion and Drayage in 2025: How to Keep Freight Moving

Why Port Congestion Matters More Than Ever

For importers, few problems are as disruptive as port congestion. When containers pile up at the docks, drayage schedules get thrown off, deliveries miss deadlines, and supply chains stall. In 2025, port congestion remains a major challenge at gateways like New York/New Jersey, Los Angeles/Long Beach, and Savannah — and its ripple effects impact everything from freight costs to customer satisfaction.

The scale of the problem is significant. According to industry data, U.S. West Coast ports saw 20–30% higher congestion in Q1 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, showing how bottlenecks are intensifying rather than easing.

The good news? With the right drayage strategy and visibility tools, businesses can minimize delays and keep freight flowing.

Why Port Congestion Happens

Port congestion isn’t a new problem, but several factors are making it worse in 2025:

Labor shortages: Fewer drivers and dockworkers mean longer wait times for pickups and returns.


Chassis availability: A lack of chassis at busy ports stalls container movement.


Appointment bottlenecks: Limited appointment slots for pickups and drop-offs force carriers into costly delays.


Volume surges: Seasonal imports, tariff-driven shipments, and ecommerce growth push ports beyond capacity.

Together, these issues create an environment where containers may sit for days — or even weeks — before moving inland.

The Impact on Drayage and Supply Chains

When ports clog, drayage is the first service line to feel the strain. That means:

Missed pickup windows lead to demurrage and detention charges.


Longer dwell times tie up assets and increase trucking costs.


Unpredictable delays disrupt warehouse receiving schedules.


Customer service fallout from late deliveries and missed commitments.

The financial stakes are huge. The Federal Maritime Commission reported that between April 2020 and March 2025, ocean carriers collected $15.4 billion in detention and demurrage charges from shippers. That’s money paid directly because containers couldn’t be moved quickly enough — a risk every importer wants to avoid.

How Importers Can Mitigate Congestion Risk

You can’t eliminate port congestion, but you can prepare for it. Best practices include:

Book drayage early: Securing capacity in advance reduces exposure to last-minute delays.


Diversify ports: Routing freight through secondary ports can minimize risk during peak congestion.


Use technology for visibility: Container tracking and appointment systems help anticipate problems before they become critical.


Coordinate with warehouses: Ensure receiving teams are ready when containers arrive to avoid compounding delays.

How 3PL Center Keeps Freight Moving

At 3PL Center, we’ve built our drayage services to give importers the transparency and reliability they need when ports get congested:

Real-time container tracking: Our WMS let you monitor every container from pickup to return, with complete visibility into location and status.


Appointment scheduling: We coordinate with ports and warehouses to reduce dwell time and keep trucks moving efficiently.


Multiple warehouse locations close to ports: Facilities near NY/NJ and Los Angeles ports cut down on transit time and handling delays.


Cost control: By monitoring container movement and planning ahead, we help clients avoid unnecessary demurrage and detention fees.


Flexible solutions: Whether you need drayage only or combined with cross-docking, warehousing, or nationwide distribution, we can adapt to your needs.

When congestion is at its worst, visibility and planning are what separate stalled freight from moving freight.

Keep Your Freight Moving Despite Congestion

Port congestion may be an unavoidable part of global trade, but it doesn’t have to cripple your supply chain. With real-time tracking, proactive planning, and reliable drayage partners, you can keep goods flowing and customers satisfied.

Don’t let port congestion derail your business. Use our quote calculator for a drayage estimate or book a call with our team today.