You Got Into Drayage to Make Money.
Let's Make Sure You Do.
Drayage Academy teaches owner-operators and small carriers how to run a profitable container operation — from port registration to scaling your fleet — using real-world systems that actually work.
Sound familiar?
Most Carriers Learn the Hard Way
You don't have to.
Every day that container sits, it's costing you money you didn't budget for. One bad move can wipe out your profit on an entire load.
If you're guessing on quotes or matching what other carriers are posting, you're probably leaving money on the table every single week.
UIIA. TWIC. Chassis pools. Port registration. Rail gates. Nobody handed you a manual — and figuring it out on your own is costing you time, money, and opportunities.
No dispatch system. No SOPs. No way to scale. Just putting out fires every day hoping it doesn't fall apart.
Loads are out there, but breaking into established lanes and building shipper relationships feels impossible when you're on the outside looking in.
Generic trucking advice doesn't apply to container freight. You need guidance from someone who has actually done this work at the port level.
Our Core System
port to profit framework™
Engineering a Profitable Drayage Operation
Introducing the Port to Profit Framework™
Most carriers fail in drayage not because they're bad truckers — but because nobody taught them the business behind the freight. The Port to Profit Framework™ is the complete system for building a drayage operation that's compliant, profitable, and built to last. Every course, webinar, and resource at Drayage Academy is built around this framework.
Foundation
Get your business set up the right way. USDOT/MC authority, TWIC cards, UIIA registration, port authority access, chassis pools, and everything you need before you move your first container.
Engineering
Stop guessing on price. Learn how to calculate your true cost-per-move, build a quoting system, protect your margins, and make sure every load you run is actually profitable.
Discipline
Build the execution systems that keep your operation running consistently. Dispatch structure, documentation, port timing, driver coordination, and avoiding the costly mistakes that kill your cash flow.
& Scale
Now grow it. TMS systems, SOPs, KPIs, dashboards, team building, and the operational maturity to scale without things falling apart.
Are You Actually
Ready to Haul?
Before you move a single container, you need to know where you stand. Take the Port to Profit Readiness Assessment and get your Drayage Ready Score — plus a custom training path based on exactly where your gaps are.
what you get
everything you need to operate, profit, & scale
Deep-dive sessions on specific drayage topics — quoting, port operations, rail, imports, exports, and more. Interactive, real-world, and packed with information you can use immediately.
See Upcoming Webinars
Self-paced, on-demand training built around the Port to Profit Framework™. Go at your own pace and come back to the material whenever you need it.
Browse Courses
Done-for-you SOPs, dispatch checklists, carrier packets, quote sheets, and operational templates. Stop building from scratch — use what already works.
Shop Resources
Drayage rate calculator, demurrage estimator, cost-per-move calculator, and more. Free tools to help you make smarter operational decisions.
Access Free Tools
Work directly with Kesha for customized operational strategy, quoting reviews, and hands-on guidance for your specific drayage situation.
Check Availability
Our flagship 6-week intensive mentorship program. For carriers who are serious about transforming their entire operation from the ground up.
Join the WaitlistQUALIFICATION CHECK
THIS IS BUILT FOR YOU IF...
Where to
Start?
Everything you need to get your operation set up correctly — TWIC card, SCAC code, UIIA registration, chassis pools, and port authority access. Five steps. Zero guesswork. We'll send it straight to your inbox.
No spam. Just the checklist. Unsubscribe anytime.
Get In Touch
Let's Talk
Drayage
Need support? Text SUPPORT to (980) 499-7262 We've got you covered.
Real drayage Experience.
Real Results.
I'm Kesha Thomas, founder of Drayage Academy — and I'm not going to teach you something I read in a book.
I ran a drayage trucking company for nearly 7 years. I hauled containers. I dealt with port fees, demurrage charges, chassis shortages, railroad headaches, and every operational nightmare this industry can throw at a small carrier. I made mistakes. Expensive ones. And I figured it out the hard way — so you don't have to.
After watching other small carriers struggle with the same things I struggled with — and seeing how much money they were losing because nobody taught them how this business actually works — I built Drayage Academy.
This is operator knowledge.
Everything I teach is rooted in real-world drayage operations, built on a framework designed to take you from structurally sound to profitably scaled — one phase at a time.
If you're ready to stop guessing and start running your operation like a business, you're in the right place.
Learn More About the Port to Profit Framework™You Didn't Get Into
Trucking to Break Even.
It's time to build a drayage operation that actually pays you what you're worth.
Got Questions?
Drayage Questions,
Answered Straight
No fluff. No guesswork. Just the real answers carriers need before they touch a container.
What is drayage trucking? +
Drayage is the short-distance transport of freight containers — typically from a seaport or rail yard to a warehouse or distribution center. It's the critical first or last leg of intermodal supply chains. Sounds simple. But it requires specific registrations, compliance knowledge, and operational discipline that most trucking schools never teach.
Do I need a TWIC card for drayage? +
Yes. A TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential) card is required to enter secure areas of most U.S. seaports. If your drivers will be picking up or delivering containers at a seaport, they need a valid TWIC card before they can access the terminal. No card, no port — it's that simple.
What is UIIA registration and do I need it? +
The UIIA (Uniform Intermodal Interchange and Facilities Access Agreement) is a mandatory industry agreement that lets motor carriers legally interchange equipment — like chassis — with ocean carriers and railroads. Without it, you can't operate in most drayage markets. It's one of the very first things you must complete before hauling a single container.
What is demurrage — and why does it hurt carriers so bad? +
Demurrage is a daily fee charged by the shipping line when a container isn't picked up from the port within the allowed free time (usually 3–5 days after the ship unloads). Miss that window and the clock starts ticking — at rates that can hit hundreds of dollars per day, per container. Most new drayage carriers bleed money here before they even realize what's happening.
What's the difference between demurrage and per diem? +
Demurrage = container sitting at the port too long (charged by the ocean carrier). Per diem = chassis kept out too long (charged by the equipment owner or chassis pool). Both run simultaneously and both can stack up fast. Understanding the difference — and how to manage both — is foundational to profitable drayage operations.
How do I calculate a profitable drayage rate? +
A real drayage rate has to cover: fuel, driver pay, chassis fees, port congestion, and a margin buffer for accessorials like scale tickets, pre-pulls, overweight charges, and chassis splits. Most carriers underprice because they quote on mileage alone. Drayage Academy teaches a cost-per-move calculation so you can price every load with confidence — and actually make money on it.
Who is Drayage Academy built for? +
Carriers ready to break into drayage or intermodal trucking. Carriers already doing drayage but bleeding money on fees they don't understand. Owner-operators who want to add container freight. Dispatchers who need to understand port and rail operations. If you're serious about building in this space — this is where you start.