Today, more than 80% of global shipping involves containers. They're packed with everything from personal storage items in dry containers to heavy machinery on flat rack containers. For business owners shipping products, getting a container from point A to point B requires precise planning and high-level tracking. But that's easier said than done when global supply chains become over-congested, leading to loading time issues and delays.
That's bad news for business owners who are already under a massive amount of stress. The truth is that container storage delays can cripple a business, but there's a viable solution: drayage brokers in Washington, DC like RelyEx. Drayage companies provide unique solutions to minimize demurrage and help ensure the successful delivery of your freight.
With more than 30 combined years of experience and a solutions-oriented team, RelyEx has quickly become the first choice for streamlined, efficient drayage services. To understand the true value of RelyEx's offerings in the global logistics industry, it helps to understand first what drayage is and why it's used.
If you're a seasoned business owner who uses port drayage to transport your products, you know exactly how important the service can be. But if you were to poll a group of random people, you may get five different definitions of the term "drayage." That begs the question, how is one of the most crucial steps in the supply chain and most vital components of global trade such a confusing concept? When you break it down, it's not too difficult to grasp.
Drayage, by definition, means the transportation of freight from an ocean port to another destination. Today, drayage is also used to describe the process of transporting products and goods over short distances or over "the first mile."
While drayage often means short-distance movements during the supply chain process, it's primarily used in the container shipping space. Drayage loads usually have arrival and departure points in the same city and don't include long-haul, national transportation.
Because a drayage load can mean a few different things, confusion among carriers is common. Many carriers link drayage with going into a port, but that isn't always true. While all drayage loads typically originate from a port of entry, there are often several legs of a drayage journey before a container turns up at its final stop. Legs of a drayage load may include:
You may be thinking, what's so important about drayage? It's such a small step in the container storage transport process. In reality, it's an integral piece needed in the logistics industry and a crucial part of U.S. supply chain management.
To truly understand the importance of drayage, let's use flowers as an example. Most cut flower shipments enter the market from areas in South America until they end up at Dutch auction houses. Once there, wholesalers purchase flowers in bulk and send those products to retail outlets worldwide. Because flowers are perishable, they typically need to be refrigerated and are often shipped in reefer containers. These refrigerated vessels must maintain a certain temp to prevent loss.
Drayage companies like RelyEx allow flower shippers to send their products from Argentinian ports to airports in the Netherlands with peace of mind because their products are protected. The only way to accomplish this feat is with the help of swift, meticulous port drayage services. Drayage companies allow flower shippers to send their products from Argentinian ports to airports in the Netherlands with peace of mind, because their products are protected. The only way to accomplish this feat is with the help of swift, meticulous port drayage services.
If port drayage is compromised, it can cause delays and even fines. You know the packages you get delivered to your front door from apps like Amazon? Without drayage and drayage brokers, one or two-day shipping times wouldn't even be possible.
As a multi-billion-dollar industry in the U.S. alone, it seems like drayage shipping issues shouldn't exist. But the fact is inefficiencies and congestion are still major problems at ports. Whether it's a lack of carriers, absent chassis, or overburdened terminals, delays lead to missed deadlines, lost revenue, and worse.
But anytime challenges exist, so too do innovative solutions.
QUOTE REQUESTRelyEx was created because our founders saw a need in the logistics space for more reliability and efficiency. The reality of the shipping and logistics industry is that it has become very transactional. It's an odd evolution, because most businesses seek a third-party logistics partner that is accessible, transparent, and committed to providing solutions.
As the logistics space continues to grow, it creates newfound expenses and complexities. Clients like ours know that and need a supply chain partner who is genuinely interested in their business. By understanding the needs of our customers and carriers, we can provide the most reliable, effective drayage services possible.
Unlike some drayage companies in Washington, DC, we begin managing your containers before they ever hit the ports by mapping out the most efficient pathways of delivery. That way, our team can discover the best drayage pathways to expedite delivery time and reduce fees that cut into profits.
Our valued drayage customers choose RelyEx because:
At RelyEx, we like to consider ourselves problem solvers. The nature of the container drayage industry presents new challenges every day, but we're firm believers that there's a solution to every hurdle we encounter. And while some drayage businesses implement a reactive approach, RelyEx customers choose us for our proactive mindset. We take pride in solving your company's drayage challenges to help you avoid frustrating fees, missed expectations, and delayed shipments. We strive to make every transaction successful and streamlined by partnering with shippers who prioritize transparent, prompt, and accurate communication.
RelyEx approaches your business from the customer's perspective - a unique approach that helps us provide high-quality, effective drayage services. We've been in the customers' shoes, know their pain points, and because of that, provide first-hand solutions to stressful supply chain issues. With over 30 years of collective knowledge, our team excels in:
Our varied, high-level drayage shipping experience helps us achieve our overarching goal: expertly managing your freight movement needs. That way, you can direct your time and focus on growing the core aspects of your business while we handle the heavy lifting. Throw in proactive planning to avoid bottleneck situations and strong communication for transparent customer relations, and you can see why so many companies trust RelyEx.
When it comes to shipping logistics, it only takes one mistake by a mediocre worker to disrupt your business. That's why, at RelyEx, we pride ourselves on forming and nurturing relationships with carriers who match our standards of care. Our founding partner started his career transporting freight for companies as an on-demand carrier. He uses that knowledge to maximize the resources of our carriers so that our customer's expectations aren't just met - they're exceeded.
Based in the port city of Washington, RelyEx has a keen understanding of the challenges of managing the inbound and outbound flow of containers. Our team of container drayage experts provides your business with unique solutions to nuanced shipping problems, minimizing demurrage and ensuring the successful delivery of your freight.
Customers choose RelyEx because:
Some drayage brokers don't care how customers feel about their service as long as they sign a contract and get paid. As a solutions-oriented team, RelyEx takes the opposite approach. We're motivated by the opportunity to overachieve for our customers and to provide them with the best logistics experience possible. With professional experience as carriers and shippers ourselves, we know the roadblocks and challenges you're facing. We excel at mapping out the best plans of action to solve those problems. But that's just the start.
Our tracking experts monitor and manage every aspect of your drayage shipment from booking to delivery, 24/7. Once booked, we look for the availability of your containers hourly once they're at port. When they arrive, our team acts quickly to access your storage containers when they're available.
Plus, RelyEx ensures your company's requirements are met by the carrier during loading and delivery and provide necessary documentation as fast as possible. With real-time tracking updates and access to our customer service professionals, your team has complete visibility throughout the shipping process.
Over the years, RelyEx has built a strong network of drayage carriers, transloading locations, and container storage spaces to provide you with the best possible options to match your drayage service needs. We know that searching for quality service presents an added layer of complexity and stress to our customers. That's why we work hard to take that off your plate by connecting you with our reliable shipping partners.
With a background moving freight as an on-demand carrier, our founding partner understands how to maximize the resources and equipment of our carriers to match your needs.
Like other industries, the global logistics space is complex. Mistakes will be made, and problems will happen. With those truths in mind, RelyEx has built its reputation as problem solvers. Unlike other drayage companies, we don't shy away from this industry's complexities because we take pride in solving problems. Even better, we aim to do what's needed to avoid those problems altogether.
As your logistics partner, we will provide your company with accurate, transparent, and prompt communication. If there are unexpected issues, we'll notify you immediately and will provide several options to remedy the problem. We even offer custom reporting for large clients who need at-the-moment updates and quick access to shipment documentation.
Why let the unpredictability of your industry dictate your success? With a background working in manufacturing, our founders are familiar with the demands of managing production schedules and sales orders. That experience makes it abundantly clear to us that every business and industry is different. If you struggle with seasonal surges or other factors, our team supports your business with a mapped-out plan and schedule, so you stay ahead of the game.
QUOTE REQUESTBased in the port city of Washington, RelyEx has a keen understanding of the challenges of managing the inbound and outbound flow of containers. Our team of container drayage experts provides your business with unique solutions to nuanced shipping problems, minimizing demurrage and ensuring the successful delivery of your freight.
Demurrage is a charge issued by a port, carrier, or railroad company for storing containers that do not load and unload their cargo promptly. Once the daily limit of free time is exceeded, shippers are charged daily demurrage fees until their cargo is shipped. Though different ports have different policies, charges can range from $75 to $150 per container, per day, for a set number of days. Additional demurrage fees are incurred if a shipper exceeds the port's parameters.
Even when shippers maintain a tight schedule for unloading freight, external factors can play an uncontrollable part. Typically, shipping mistakes caused by human error trigger the most demurrage charges. Some of the most common causes of demurrage include:
Typically, shippers need four specific documents to clear shipments through customs: A Bill of Lading (or BOL), a commercial invoice, a packing list, and an arrival notice. Seasoned drayage brokers like RelyEx are used to preparing these documents, but new shippers tend to miss this step due to inexperience.
If a shipper only pays for part of their shipment, a vessel operator may refuse to release their freight until their bill is fully paid. Payment delays lead to cargo detention at the port of entry, which triggers demurrage charges.
QUOTE REQUESTPaperwork is needed when you're shipping goods with a drayage company. When documents like the Certificate of Origin or Bill of Lading arrive at their destination late, you can expect demurrage fees. RelyEx avoids this situation entirely by being proactive when submitting paperwork.
Additional causes for demurrage fees can include:
At RelyEx, we know first-hand how stressful supply chain problems can be for business owners. Though drayage shipping might seem minor on the surface, it affects every stage of your shipping process. And when inevitable hurdles manifest, RelyEx propels you over the proverbial roadblocks with a proactive mindset and a passion for challenging projects. We believe that all problems have a solution, and our unique vantage point allows us to provide first-hand solutions to customers in a wide array of industries.
When it comes to your business, don't settle for anything less than RelyEx. Contact our office today to learn more about how we make your shipping experience streamlined and stress-free.
The Washington Post has decided to keep its headquarters at the One Franklin Square building in downtown D.C. for at least 13 more years, Bisnow has learned.The company signed a lease renewal at the prominent Hines-owned building near the McPherson Square Metro station at 1301 K St. NW, where it moved eight years ago, documents filed w...
The Washington Post has decided to keep its headquarters at the One Franklin Square building in downtown D.C. for at least 13 more years, Bisnow has learned.
The company signed a lease renewal at the prominent Hines-owned building near the McPherson Square Metro station at 1301 K St. NW, where it moved eight years ago, documents filed with the D.C. Recorder of Deeds Tuesday show. A source with knowledge of the deal confirmed to Bisnow the newspaper is keeping its entire footprint in the building.
The deal represents a win for a central business district that has faced a series of high-profile departures in recent months.
The Washington Post is located at Hines' One Franklin Square in downtown D.C.
The new lease expires Dec. 13, 2037, according to the documents, with an option to extend five years. The newspaper's initial lease at the building ran through 2031, according to previous reports.
The Post opened at the 612K SF property with 250K SF in December 2015 and had expanded to 306K SF by 2021.
The Post occupies the fourth through ninth floors in the west tower, the sixth through ninth in the east tower and a portion of the ground floor behind the lobby, according to the documents.
The Washington Post didn't respond to a request for comment. A spokesperson for Hines declined to comment.
The move to Franklin Square was monumental for the Post, which had been at its previous home just a few blocks away since 1950 but signed a lease to move to Hines’ building in 2014.
That decision came shortly after Amazon founder Jeff Bezos acquired the Post. The newspaper had previously considered leaving downtown for the fast-developing NoMa neighborhood in Northeast D.C. before Bezos opted to remain downtown and relocate to One Franklin Square, the Post reported in 2015.
The newspaper has faced challenges over the last year, initiating buyouts in October to cut its staff by 240. The Post announced it met its goal in December.
The ground floor of One Franklin Square features Compass Coffee and SoHo Cafe & Market. Law firm Reed Smith LLP renewed a nearly 80K SF lease at the property in 2016, set to expire in 2027. Law firm Davis Wright Tremaine LLP signed a 49K SF lease through 2032. The Washington Post has signage rights for the property.
Hines put One Franklin Square up for sale or recapitalization in August 2021, but it has remained the owner of the property.
The Post’s renewed commitment to downtown D.C. comes as some of its neighbors have decided to vacate their spaces in the area.
At the redevelopment of the Post's former headquarters site, Carr Properties' Midtown Center, Fannie Mae opted to vacate its 720K SF lease early in 2029, Bisnow first reported last month. It remains unclear if the company will stay in the District after the expiration.
Meanwhile, CoStar plans to move later this year from its home at 1331 L St. NW, two blocks from One Franklin Square, to a 31-story office tower it purchased this month in Arlington, Virginia's Rosslyn neighborhood.
Downtown D.C. is also facing the potential loss of the NHL's Capitals and the NBA's Wizards after Monumental Sports & Entertainment in December announced plans to relocate the teams to a new arena in Alexandria's Potomac Yard. That project still needs approval from the Virginia Legislature.
D.C. also faces record-high office vacancy of 21.2%, as many tenants have decided to downsize their footprints since the onset of the pandemic, relocate to the suburbs and shift to hybrid work.
American University pubcaster WAMU Washington, DC (88.5) abruptly shut down DCist, with a pop-up message appearing on the online publication before being redirected to the website of the news/talk station.“Thank you for visiting and supporting DCist. Since 2018, it has been a part of WAMU 88.5, the Washington region's public media and NPR member station,” the message read. “As of February 23, the site will no longer publish new content. Please visit WAMU.org...
American University pubcaster WAMU Washington, DC (88.5) abruptly shut down DCist, with a pop-up message appearing on the online publication before being redirected to the website of the news/talk station.
“Thank you for visiting and supporting DCist. Since 2018, it has been a part of WAMU 88.5, the Washington region's public media and NPR member station,” the message read. “As of February 23, the site will no longer publish new content. Please visit WAMU.org for local news and programming. You will be automatically redirected to WAMU.org in 15 seconds.”
“The shift away from digital publishing will allow WAMU to focus on its core radio products, as well as new digital audio opportunities like podcasts and live events,” WAMU GM Erika Pulley-Hayes told Axios. "We're making the choice to invest in what we're better at than anyone else in this town, and that's audio."
"We feel like this is the best way for us to engage and build loyalty," WAMU Chief Content Officer Michael Tribble added.
Peter Cherukuri, Vice Chair of WAMU's Board of Advisers, remarked, "Too many media companies fail by trying to be all things to all people, leaving their value proposition diluted and weakened."
As a result of DCist being shuttered, 15 positions have been eliminated, however, WAMU says new positions will be added, mostly audio techs and producers. Plans are to introduce a new, local radio program and create a new app, Axios reports.
The sudden shutdown was preceded by “a curt email on Thursday,” according to a post on the X account WeMakeWAMU, which is run by union members of the staff.
“This morning, @wamu885 management informed us they are laying off 15 vital people from our organization. These individuals are the lifeblood of our journalism. Our hearts are broken. We can’t believe we are losing our colleagues and friends,” the post began. “We are also devastated to report that management is shutting down @DCist.”
The union members said the Thursday email was “followed by a short Friday morning announcement” which “undid years of work. That’s thousands of daily stories, countless hours of work, and many, many, community voices… all gone.”
WAMU plans to expand the presence of one of its most popular hosts Kojo Nnamdi, who anchors the weekly “The Politics Hour” program. According to Axios, the station plans to capitalize on the program with an expansion of its political division across the District, Maryland, and Virginia. WAMU will also invest more in arts and culture reporting.
The Washington, D.C., area is preparing to wake up to a winter wonderland on Saturday.Up to a few inches of snow are expected to fall overnight into Saturday, Storm Team4 says.Much of the D.C. area will be under a winter weather advisory. A winter storm warning will be in effect for areas north and west expected to get the largest snowfall. Here's a full list of weather alerts.Snow is set to arrive late Friday and m...
The Washington, D.C., area is preparing to wake up to a winter wonderland on Saturday.
Up to a few inches of snow are expected to fall overnight into Saturday, Storm Team4 says.
Much of the D.C. area will be under a winter weather advisory. A winter storm warning will be in effect for areas north and west expected to get the largest snowfall. Here's a full list of weather alerts.
Snow is set to arrive late Friday and move out by 7 or 8 a.m. Saturday.
Prince George's County Public Schools canceled athletics and activities and will close facilities on Saturday due to the weather.
If you want to build a snowman or hit up a sledding hill, get moving early. Sunshine will be back on Saturday afternoon to melt a lot of the snow.
Early Sunday, slippery sidewalks and black ice on roads could slow down travel. But all-day sunshine will melt most of the lingering snow. Monday's weather looks great for your Presidents Day plans, like visiting Mount Vernon or Alexandria's George Washington Birthday Parade.
Enjoy this snowfall: With March just two weeks away, there’s more than a 50-50 chance that this will be the last significant snowfall of the season, Storm Team4 Meteorologist Chuck Bell said.
This storm will be more of a nuisance than a blockbuster.
There’s a 99% chance that we see at least an inch of snow, Bell said.
Overall, a few inches of snow are likely. Storm Team4 predicts:
A winter storm warning will be in effect from 11 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Saturday for western Loudoun County, Virginia, and Frederick County, Maryland.
Heavy snow is expected, and travel could become very difficult in those areas, the National Weather Service said.
A winter weather advisory is in effect from 10 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Saturday, The National Weather Service said.
The advisory covers much of the D.C. area:
Many D.C.-area outdoor music venues just dropped their summer concert lineups — meaning it's time to plan which tickets you...
Many D.C.-area outdoor music venues just dropped their summer concert lineups — meaning it's time to plan which tickets you want to buy.
Why it matters: Bringing a picnic to Wolf Trap or taking the Rally Bus to Jiffy Lube are something of a D.C. summer rites of passage.
Here's what you need to know before summer concert season begins:
The Columbia music venue kicks off its warm-weather season April 21 with a performance by New Orleans group Tank and the Bangas and the Howard County Youth Orchestra.
Other shows we're pumped for:
Zoom in: For some shows, only lawn chairs without legs are allowed, and you can't bring coolers with outside food or drinks.
The venue, operated in part by the National Park Service, launches its summer series June 1 at its outdoor amphitheater, the Filene Center. The first show: A singing extravaganza featuring several area choirs. (Audience participation encouraged!)
Other shows we're pumped for:
Plus: The Out & About Festival on June 22 celebrates LGBTQ+ artists and allies, with performers like Brittany Howard, Jenny Lewis, and Okan.
Zoom in: Picnics and drinks (alcoholic and non) are allowed, although bevvies must be poured into covered Wolf Trap cups. Lawn chairs and blankets are also OK.
Summer season at the Bristow amphitheater begins with Neil Young and Crazy Horse May 11.
Other shows we're pumped for:
Zoom in: The venue has a clear bag policy, and while you can bring in some snacks, water, lawn chairs, and blankets, no coolers or alcohol are allowed.
The Model United Nations (MUN) team flew to Washington D.C. to attend the North American Invitational Model United Nations (NAIMUN) on Presidents’ Day Weekend, from Feb. 15-18. The tournament was hosted by Georgetown University at the Washington Hilton in Dupont Circle, where students participated as delegates in a large-scale and immersive conferences, discussin...
The Model United Nations (MUN) team flew to Washington D.C. to attend the North American Invitational Model United Nations (NAIMUN) on Presidents’ Day Weekend, from Feb. 15-18. The tournament was hosted by Georgetown University at the Washington Hilton in Dupont Circle, where students participated as delegates in a large-scale and immersive conferences, discussing global issues and offering different perspectives on international affairs. NAIMUN is the largest student-run Model United Nations conference in the world, with over 3,300 delegates in attendance each year.
Liv Kriger ’25 and Editor-in-Chief Averie Perrin ’24 received a Verbal Commendation for their representation of Bangladesh in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Zoe Kramar ’24 earned an Honorable Mention in a crisis committee, and Owen Huang ’24 won a Book Award for outstanding research.
Kramar said that leading up to the conference, the MUN team dedicated time to research for their position papers and prepping answers, while also strengthening their public speaking, leadership and diplomacy skills at conferences along the way.
“HWMUN has been preparing for NAIMUN all year, learning procedure and honing skills at various other conferences we’ve had this year,” Kramar said. “For D.C. specifically, we had to research our topics, write an essay about our country’s position and prepare some solutions to a problem.”
Kramar said that despite spending the majority of the trip at the conference, she was able to share quality time with her fellow delegates exploring the city.
“Most of our time was spent in committee, but I think the most valuable lesson I learned was how to make the most of even a few free hours with friends in a new city,” Kramar said.
Huang said that the highlight of the tournament involved discovering a spy within his committee, which was centered on the 1993 Taiwan National Development Conference, allowing him to use quick thinking skills to take advantage of the situation.
“The most memorable moment came when a Chinese spy was found in our committee and subsequently fled into hiding in the conference hotel,” Huang said. “We had a competition with the committee representing the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party to track him down, and my five-man group representing Taiwan ended up finding him just two minutes into the hunt. This victory gave Taiwan the upper hand in our negotiations, and the five of us were immortalized as heroes of the Republic.”
Huang said the skills he has picked up from MUN will benefit him in his future.
“Given my interest in international relations, I think Model UN will have a sizable impact on my academic and career pursuits,” Huang said. “It’s taught me many lessons in diplomacy, leadership, research and building relationships with peers from around the world.”