Pre-Pull

A pre-pull is a drayage strategy where a trucker picks up an import container from the port terminal before the receiving warehouse is ready to unload it, delivering the container to a nearby off-dock yard or warehouse yard for temporary storage. The primary purpose is to remove the container from the marine terminal before the importer’s free time expires, avoiding the steep demurrage and terminal storage fees that accumulate once free time runs out. The container then waits at the lower-cost off-site location until dock space and labor are available for unloading.

Why Pre-pulling Exists

Marine terminal storage fees at major U.S. ports escalate rapidly after the free time period (typically 3 to 5 free days depending on the carrier and terminal). At the Port of Long Beach, terminal storage can reach $75 to $200 per container per day within the first week after free time expires, and fees increase on a tiered schedule the longer the container sits. During periods of port congestion, surcharges can push daily rates even higher.

Meanwhile, many warehouses and prep centers cannot unload every container the day it becomes available. Limited dock doors, labor constraints, or a backlog of inbound containers may mean a 2 to 5 day wait between when a container could be picked up and when it can actually be unloaded. Pre-pulling bridges this gap by moving the container off the terminal’s expensive clock and onto a cheaper one.

The Cost Calculation

A pre-pull involves an extra truck move: the trucker picks up the container from the terminal, delivers it to the off-dock or warehouse yard, and then returns later (or a different trucker handles the return chassis). The cost of a pre-pull dray in the Long Beach/Los Angeles area is typically $150 to $350, depending on the distance and whether the container is grounded or stays on chassis.

Off-dock yard storage costs range from $15 to $40 per day for a loaded container on chassis. If the container sits at the off-dock yard for 5 days, total pre-pull cost (dray plus storage) might be $300 to $550. Compare that to terminal storage of $375 to $1,000 for the same 5 days. The savings are clear, especially when containers dwell longer due to warehouse backlogs.

The calculation changes if a chassis is involved. If the trucker delivers the container to a yard on a pool chassis, that chassis accumulates daily rental fees ($25 to $45 per day) until the container is unloaded and the chassis returned. Grounding the container (lifting it off the chassis and placing it on the ground) avoids ongoing chassis costs but adds a lift charge of $150 to $300 and requires a facility with a crane or top-handler.

When to Pre-pull

Pre-pulling makes financial sense when the container cannot be unloaded within the free time window and terminal storage rates exceed the combined cost of the pre-pull dray and off-site storage. For importers bringing in multiple containers per month, the decision often comes down to warehouse receiving capacity. If the warehouse can unload two containers per day and four containers arrive in the same week, pre-pulling the third and fourth containers prevents them from burning expensive terminal free time while waiting for dock availability.

Pre-pulling is especially common during peak import seasons (August through November) when port congestion extends dwell times and warehouse receiving schedules are backed up with inbound volume from multiple clients.

Coordination Requirements

Effective pre-pulling requires tight coordination between the customs broker (to confirm the container is released), the drayage carrier (to schedule pickup within free time), and the off-dock yard or warehouse (to confirm they can receive the container). The importer or their logistics provider needs to monitor Last Free Day (LFD) dates for each container and dispatch pickups accordingly.

MeisterPrep’s warehouse locations near the ports of Long Beach and Charleston allow containers to be pre-pulled directly to the prep facility’s yard, eliminating the need for a separate off-dock storage provider. The container sits in the yard at a lower rate until a dock door opens for unloading, keeping the total cost chain short.