A pre-pull is one of the simplest tools in drayage — and one of the most misunderstood. Used correctly, it routinely turns a four-figure demurrage bill into a much smaller storage line. Here’s exactly what it is, when it makes financial sense, and how it works at PortMiami and Port Everglades.
The definition
A pre-pull is when a drayage carrier pulls your container out of the port terminal before the scheduled delivery day and stages it at a secure yard, then delivers it to your dock when you’re ready. You pay a pre-pull fee plus daily yard storage instead of the terminal’s demurrage charges.
The clock that matters is the last free day (LFD) — the final day your container can sit at the terminal without charges. Once the LFD passes, demurrage accrues daily, and rates escalate the longer the box sits.
Why terminals charge so much more than yards
Terminal space is designed for velocity, not storage. Demurrage exists specifically to push containers out — which is why daily terminal charges typically run several times the cost of commercial yard storage. A container yard, by contrast, is built for staging: at our Miami facility, a 5-acre secured lot holds up to 450 containers with 24/7 access, so a staged box costs a fraction of what the terminal would bill. See yard storage for details.
When a pre-pull saves money
Your warehouse can’t receive on time
The most common trigger. The vessel discharges Friday, your dock is booked solid until Thursday, and the LFD is Monday. A pre-pull Monday morning, three nights in the yard, delivery Thursday — total cost is usually well under half of what the equivalent demurrage would run.
The terminal is congested
During peak season or after weather closures, appointment slots vanish. Pulling the container the moment an appointment is available — even if you don’t need it yet — protects you from charges you can’t otherwise control.
You need flexibility on delivery sequencing
Importers receiving multiple containers can pre-pull the batch and drip-feed deliveries to match labor at the dock, instead of taking all boxes at once.
The load needs work before delivery
If cargo must be transloaded into a domestic trailer, palletized, or segregated, the pre-pull brings it to the container freight station where that happens — one move instead of two.
When a pre-pull is NOT worth it
- Your dock can receive within the free time window — just deliver direct.
- The container must return to the terminal quickly for an export booking.
- The math doesn’t clear: for a box you’ll deliver tomorrow anyway, one day of demurrage may cost less than a pre-pull plus storage. Run the numbers before you book — or let us run them with an instant drayage quote.
Don’t forget per diem
Demurrage isn’t the only clock. Once the container leaves the terminal, the ocean carrier’s per diem (detention) clock starts on the equipment itself. A good drayage partner manages both: pre-pull before the LFD, then return the empty within the carrier’s free days. Real-time visibility helps — every container we handle is trackable through our shipment tracker.
How to book a pre-pull in Miami
- Send your carrier the container number, LFD, and delivery constraints.
- The carrier secures a terminal appointment before the LFD and pulls the box to the yard.
- The container stages in the yard — secured, tracked, and accessible.
- Delivery happens on your schedule; the empty returns within per diem free time.
At Go Drayage the whole cycle happens inside one asset-based operation — our trucks, our yard, our forklifts — which is what makes the economics work. Call (786) 445-0150 or contact us to set one up.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a container pre-pull cost?
Pre-pull fees vary by market and carrier, but the fee plus a few days of yard storage almost always totals significantly less than the equivalent days of terminal demurrage. Request an exact number via our drayage quote tool.
Does a pre-pull stop demurrage charges?
Yes — demurrage stops the moment the container exits the terminal. Be aware the ocean carrier’s per diem clock on the container itself continues until the empty is returned.
How long can a pre-pulled container stay in a yard?
As long as you need. Commercial yards offer short-term and long-term storage; our Miami yard stages containers for a night or a season, with 24/7 secure access.