More Hawaii Logistics Services
Container Drayage Honolulu: Daily Port Pickups Across Oahu
Preferred Transportation Services picks up containers every weekday at Honolulu Harbor yards, including Matson, Pasha Hawaii and Young Brothers, hauls them on the carrier's chassis and delivers them to warehouses, stores and job sites across Oahu. We return the empty, and we can unload, stage or store the freight if your site is not ready. Freight that comes out of the container and needs an open deck for the last leg can go on our flatbed hauling services. Every move is run by our own CDL-A drivers, who hold TWIC cards for harbor access.
How a drayage booking works
- Send the container details. Carrier, container and bill of lading numbers, size and type, declared gross weight, delivery address and receiving hours.
- We check the release. The carrier notifies the consignee when cargo is available; cargo from outside the U.S. also needs a customs release.
- We book the gate. The pickup goes inside the carrier yard's gate hours, usually the next working day for afternoon requests.
- We deliver to your window. The driver arrives inside your receiving window; you or our crew unloads.
- We return the empty. The empty container and chassis go back to the carrier before free time runs out.
For gate hours, chassis and terminal steps in more detail, read our guide to Port of Honolulu drayage.
Who uses container drayage on Oahu?
Most of our drayage customers import freight into Hawaii and need it moved from the port to a working site.
- Freight forwarders and carriers that need a local port and last-mile partner
- Importers, wholesalers and distributors receiving containers at their warehouses
- Retailers and e-commerce sellers moving inventory to stores or a distribution center
- Contractors and building suppliers receiving lumber, materials and project cargo at job sites
- Food, beverage and hospitality buyers, including refrigerated freight
- Manufacturers, healthcare providers and public agencies receiving imported freight
Pickup cut-off at Honolulu Harbor yards
Our office is open Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The carrier yards close earlier. Matson's Honolulu container yard closes at 3:45 PM Monday through Friday, and Pasha Hawaii's Pier 51 gate closes at 2:45 PM on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, as each carrier posts on its website (checked 8 October 2026). Young Brothers, the inter-island barge carrier, runs its Honolulu terminal at Pier 40, 1331 N. Nimitz Hwy, with gates closing at 3:00 PM Monday through Friday.
A request that reaches us in the afternoon usually cannot get to the gate before it closes, so the pickup moves to the next working day. For the earliest slot, send the container number and release status the working day before.
Free time, detention and per diem
Each carrier gives a set number of free days to pick up, unload and return its container. After that, it charges a daily fee, often called per diem or detention, for keeping its container and chassis. Matson publishes these Hawaii figures:
| Matson Hawaii | Dry container | Refrigerated container |
|---|---|---|
| Free time on chassis to unload | 10 days | 6 days |
| Free time in container yard storage | 10 calendar days | 6 business days |
| Detention, per unit per day | $44 | $80 up to 24 ft; $98 over 24 ft |
| Storage, per unit per day | $49 up to 24 ft; $61 over 24 ft | $131 up to 24 ft; $158 over 24 ft |
Matson's free time starts at 12:01 AM after the last westbound container is discharged, or on the next workday if that falls on a weekend or holiday. Port terminal storage fees are paid to the port authority, not Matson. Pasha Hawaii, Young Brothers and other carriers publish their own terms, so check your carrier's tariff, and book pickup as soon as the container is released.
Transload and staging
If your site is not ready, or the freight needs to go to several stops, we unload the container at our facility so you stop paying for the box. From there we can:
- Sort, palletize and split the freight into store or job site deliveries with break-bulk distribution
- Hold it in short-term storage until your receiver has space
- Keep it longer in long-term storage or our Honolulu warehouse
- Release it in smaller loads through our Hawaii distribution center
Ask for transload or storage when you request your quote so the plan covers the container return date.
Equipment for container drayage
Our FMCSA record shows 18 power units and 19 drivers, with intermodal containers, general freight, refrigerated food, beverages, lumber, paper products and construction materials among the cargo we carry. Matson releases containers on chassis for local delivery, and we haul them that way. Matson's Hawaii fleet includes dry containers from 20 to 45 feet, and it ships refrigerated cargo to Hawaii in 40-foot high-cube reefers. We confirm the equipment from the container size and gross weight you send us.
At your site, we can add forklift delivery or lift gate delivery for freight that has to come off without a dock. Oversized cargo on flatracks moves on our drop deck trailers.
When will the container be delivered?
We book delivery inside the receiving window you give us. Tell us your dock hours, whether the receiver needs an appointment, any access limits, and how the container will be unloaded, so the driver is not waiting at the door. Deliveries to military bases follow each base's access rules, covered on our military base and residential delivery page.
What paperwork does each container need?
- Carrier release. The carrier tells the consignee or its agent when cargo is available. Matson sends that notice by phone, fax, mail or electronic means. We start from that notice.
- Container and bill of lading numbers. We use them to track availability and book the pickup.
- Equipment interchange agreement. Matson requires an approved agreement from the truck carrier to move its containers. We hold agreements with Matson, Pasha Hawaii, Aloha Marine Lines, NYK Lines and Young Brothers.
- Customs release, for cargo from outside the United States. The importer of record has up to 15 days after arrival to file a cargo release with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Cargo shipped from the U.S. mainland is domestic and does not need a customs entry. Our customs clearance in Hawaii guide covers the steps.
- Agricultural inspection. The Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity requires an inspection before agricultural items, such as plants and produce, enter the state.
- From you: the declared gross weight, the delivery address and your receiving hours.
Why use Preferred Transportation Services for container drayage in Honolulu?
These points come from public records you can check yourself.
- USDOT 2926199 is active in the FMCSA SAFER system (snapshot dated 6 October 2026). The record lists us as an authorized for-hire carrier operating within Hawaii.
- SAFER shows 29 roadside inspections in the 24 months to 6 October 2026 and no reported crashes. Our vehicle out-of-service rate is 11.1 percent, against a national average of 22.26 percent.
- Hawaii PUC certificate 2398-C. The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission regulates property motor carriers in the state.
- Interchange agreements with Matson, Pasha Hawaii, Aloha Marine Lines, NYK Lines and Young Brothers.
- Locally owned on Oahu since 2016. Customers include City Mill, Expeditors, H2O Logistics, Lynden Logistics and Norwegian Cruise Line.
Related services and guides
- Port of Honolulu drayage
- Break-bulk distribution
- Warehouse storage in Honolulu
- Shipping a container to Hawaii
- LCL vs FCL shipping to Hawaii
- Customs clearance in Hawaii
- Refrigerated and frozen delivery
Need container drayage in Honolulu? Request a quote or call (808) 509-8160, Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Container drayage FAQ
What is container drayage in Honolulu?
Container drayage in Honolulu is the short truck move between a Honolulu Harbor container yard and the first place the container is unloaded, such as a warehouse, store, job site or distribution center. The driver delivers the loaded container and returns the empty to the carrier.
Do you provide drayage from the Port of Honolulu?
Yes. Preferred Transportation Services supports container movement from the Port of Honolulu to destinations across Oahu.
How much free time do I get before detention charges?
It depends on the carrier. Matson gives 10 days on chassis for a dry container and 6 days for a refrigerated one, then charges detention from $44 a day. Book pickup as soon as the container is released.
How much does container drayage cost in Honolulu?
The price depends on the container size and weight, the delivery address, wait time at the yard or your dock, and any extra equipment such as a lift gate or forklift. Send the container number and delivery address and we will quote it. Carrier detention and storage charges are separate.
What do you need to book a container pickup?
Send the carrier name, the container and bill of lading numbers, whether the carrier has released the container, its size and type, the declared gross weight, the delivery address and your receiving hours.
Can drayage be paired with storage?
Yes. Freight can be coordinated with short-term storage, long-term storage, distribution, and final delivery.
Can you haul refrigerated containers?
Yes. Our FMCSA record lists refrigerated food among the cargo we carry. Refrigerated containers get less free time than dry ones, so tell us when you book and we will plan delivery to a cold room first.
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