Characteristics of Drayage Operations at the Port of Houston, Texas

Abstract

Port drayage—defined as a truck pickup from or delivery to a seaport, with the trip origin and destination in the same urban area—is a critical, yet comparatively understudied link in the intermodal supply chain. Because port dray trucks operate primarily in urban environments, they significantly affect congestion and air quality. Drayage industry characteristics at the Port of Houston Authority (POHA) in Texas are identified to help planners prepare for continually increasing container volumes, while considering the dual needs of maintaining profitability and reducing societal costs. Results are reported from interviews with drayage managers and a survey of 103 port drivers at the Port of Houston's Barbours Cut container terminal regarding demographics, working conditions, truck characteristics, route characteristics, and port operations. The study results then are compared with existing literature, most of which originates in the area of Los Angeles, California. Substantial variation is apparent in truck age and mileage. Although few drivers were unsatisfied with overall terminal efficiency, many had suggestions for improving efficiency. Results indicate that the industry is relatively stable, despite the increasing demands that stem from high container growth rates. Finally, methods whereby the dray fleet could be modernized through grants for air quality improvement are examined.