Container Pick-up Charge

Container Pick-up Charge refers to the operational fee charged by the carrier, shipping company, or its agent in foreign trade container transportation when delivering an empty or loaded container to the shipper, consignee, or their entrusted truck driver at the container yard (CY) or a designated location, for providing the container pick-up service. This fee usually occurs in the export process, where the shipper needs to pick up an empty container from the yard for loading; or in the import process, where the consignee needs to pick up a loaded container for transport to the destination. Usage scenarios include: after the freight forwarder books space with the shipping company, arranging a truck fleet to pick up the container from the yard with a container pick-up order; or after import customs clearance, the consignee arranges a trailer to pick up the loaded container. Notes: Container Pick-up Charge is different from 'Container Return Charge', which is incurred when returning an empty container; it may also be confused with 'Lift-on/Lift-off Charge', which is the cost of loading/unloading containers by shore cranes or yard cranes. Additionally, the pick-up charge is sometimes already included in the ocean freight or local charges, so the quotation should be carefully checked to avoid double payment. Charges vary greatly among different ports and shipping companies, and may be affected by peak season, fuel surcharges, etc. Foreign trade practitioners should specify the responsible party in the contract and confirm the pick-up time limit, overdue storage fees, etc. before operation to avoid extra costs.