What is Dwell Time in Supply Chain?

Dwell Time is the amount of time a shipping container sits completely idle. Whether it is sitting on the dock at the port, or sitting in a dirt parking lot waiting to be unloaded, dwell time is the silent killer of logistics budgets.

The Pre-Pull Strategy

When a port gives you 4 days of "Free Time" to pick up your container, and your warehouse is full, you have a problem. If you leave the container at the port, they will charge you severe Demurrage fines (often $200+ per day).

To avoid this, logistics managers use a tactic called a Pre-Pull. They hire a trucker to pick the container up from the port and drop it off at a cheap, private off-site yard. You pay a one-time drayage fee (e.g., $350), but you avoid the massive daily port fines.

The Hidden Chassis Rental Trap

Whether the container is sitting at the port, or sitting in a pre-pull yard, it is resting on a Chassis (the wheeled trailer frame). You do not own the chassis; you rent it from a leasing pool (like DCLI or TRAC) for around $35 a day.

If you pre-pull a container to avoid a $200/day port fine, but let it sit in a yard for 15 days, you still have to pay 15 days of chassis rental fees. This calculator helps you determine exactly which strategy is cheaper based on how long you expect the cargo to be delayed.