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 Miami, FL 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 Miami, FL, 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 Miami, 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 Miami, 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.
843-885-3082A South Florida child who is 4 or possibly younger has fallen ill with measles, just days after a cluster of cases were reported at a Broward elementary school, state data shows.The child, who is listed as newborn to 4, is the youngest reported measles case so far in this latest outbreak and is Broward’s seventh confirmed case this month, according to preliminary data from Florida’s web-based reportable dise...
A South Florida child who is 4 or possibly younger has fallen ill with measles, just days after a cluster of cases were reported at a Broward elementary school, state data shows.
The child, who is listed as newborn to 4, is the youngest reported measles case so far in this latest outbreak and is Broward’s seventh confirmed case this month, according to preliminary data from Florida’s web-based reportable disease surveillance system.
The other six children infected with measles are between the ages of 5 and 14 and are students at Manatee Bay Elementary School, a K-5 school at 19200 Manatee Isles Dr. in Weston. In Florida, a child needs to be at least 5 to be in kindergarten.
Broward County Public Schools on Friday morning told the Miami Herald that there were no new confirmed measles cases at its schools, leaving the count at six.
Measles is a highly contagious disease that can spread through coughing, sneezing and by touching infected surfaces. While it was eliminated in the U.S. in 2000 following an effective vaccination program, outbreaks still occur, usually among those who are not vaccinated. For those who are vaccinated, it’s rare to fall ill — one dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, or MMR is about 93% effective and two doses is about 97% effective, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC recommends kids get the first vaccine dose at 12 through 15 months of age and the second dose at 4 to 6 years of age. While the vaccine is mandatory to attend all public and private childcare and K-12 schools in Florida, some students have medical or religious exemptions. At the Weston elementary school, 3 percent of its students are not vaccinated.
READ MORE: Should you worry about measles in South Florida? What to know as school cases found
Broward school district officials and the state health department have not said if the six students at the Weston school were vaccinated for measles or if any had recently traveled.
As for the child who is 4 or younger, no other details were immediately available, including the child’s vaccination status and if the child attends a preschool or daycare center. The Miami Herald has contacted the Florida Department of Health.
All seven measles cases are listed in the state system as being “acquired in Florida,” though this information is preliminary and may change as the state conducts its epidemiological investigation. Cases are classified based on the county where the person lives and does not necessarily mean that the person fell ill in the county.
While it’s rare for those who are vaccinated to fall ill with measles, you should still notify your doctor and monitor for symptoms.
If you’re not vaccinated and have never previously had measles, health experts say you should contact your doctor — do not show up to their office, call first — for guidance, which may include getting the MMR vaccine.
If you get the vaccine within 72 hours after initial exposure, it could provide some protection against the disease or help you have a milder illness, the CDC says. Your doctor might also opt to give you a medicine called immunoglobulin within six days of exposure to reduce your risk of severe illness.
READ MORE: Measles cases resurface. How many are protected? What’s the vaccination rate in Florida?
This story was originally published February 23, 2024, 1:42 PM.
Michelle Marchante covers the pulse of healthcare in South Florida. Before that, she covered the COVID-19 pandemic, hurricanes, crime, education, entertainment and other topics in South Florida for the Herald as a breaking news reporter. She recently won second place in the 73rd annual Green Eyeshade Awards for her consumer-focused healthcare stories and was part of the team of reporters who won a 2022 Pulitzer Prize For Breaking News in the Herald’s coverage of the Surfside condo collapse. Michelle graduated with honors from Florida International University and was a 2020-2021 Poynter-Koch Media & Journalism fellow.
South Florida is a visitor’s paradise, offering everything from entertainment, to diverse food and unmatchable weather. So it’s no surprise there’s no shortage of short-term rentals in the area.“It’s the epicenter of short-term rentals,” said Sep Niakan, a broker for BlackBook Properties.Niakan says Miami has been embracing the trend for years.“Certain buildings are designated to be allowed for short-term rentals and actually are built for that purpose,” he said.In f...
South Florida is a visitor’s paradise, offering everything from entertainment, to diverse food and unmatchable weather. So it’s no surprise there’s no shortage of short-term rentals in the area.
“It’s the epicenter of short-term rentals,” said Sep Niakan, a broker for BlackBook Properties.
Niakan says Miami has been embracing the trend for years.
“Certain buildings are designated to be allowed for short-term rentals and actually are built for that purpose,” he said.
In fact, he says construction for several of these buildings in Miami are already underway.
“Most of those projects are already sold out,” he said.
By 2027, Niakan says he expects about 15 short-term-rental-friendly buildings to be ready in the greater downtown Miami area.
“From Brickell to Edgewater,” he said.
According to AirDNA, a short-term rental data analytics company, in December there were over 22,000 available listings in Miami-Dade county – a 19% jump from 2019. Broward County saw a 71% increase from 2019, with over 17,700 available listings that same month.
“We’d be hard pressed to find a market that has absorbed or taken on the concept of short-term rentals more than Southeast Florida,” said Ken H. Johnson, a real estate economist and professor at Florida Atlantic University.
He explained the trend isn’t just confined to Miami.
“Anecdotally, you can just see it in virtually every neighborhood,” Johnson said. “I walk out front and there are short-term rentals right across from my home.”
He added, “This has always been in the marketplace, just never to this magnitude.”
State lawmakers are taking notice.
Earlier this month, the full Florida Senate approved Senate bill 280, which would allow local governments to create vacation-rental registration programs. It would also cap maximum overnight occupancy and would establish a uniform set of regulations throughout the state. You can read the bill here: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2024/280
Last year, New York made headlines after new rules went into effect, requiring short-term rentals to register in the city. The rules also require hosts to be physically present in the home for the duration of a rental.
Some cities in South Florida already have their own restrictions. Fort Lauderdale requires a vacation rental registration fee. Coral Gables bans short-term rentals in residential areas altogether.
“Miami has areas that it’s allowed, areas that it has not allowed types of units,” Jamie Lane, chief economist at AirDNA said. “It’s a very dynamic market.”
Johnson said he does not see the trend slowing down.
“As long as the economy is strong, I actually think we’ll see significant numbers, no matter what we do legislatively,” he said.
A similar bill was filed in the state house. You can read House bill 1537 here.
HB1537 would make county tax collectors responsible for administering registration programs. Both bills would require platforms that advertise short-term rental listings to collect state and local taxes.
FLORIDA — Florida surgeon general Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo is under fire after being accused of not encouraging vaccination amid a measles outbreak at a Broward County elementary school.Ladapo sent parents a letter Tuesday informing them "a cluster of measles cases" plagued Manatee Bay Elementary, where the Washington Post reported six cases of the ...
FLORIDA — Florida surgeon general Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo is under fire after being accused of not encouraging vaccination amid a measles outbreak at a Broward County elementary school.
Ladapo sent parents a letter Tuesday informing them "a cluster of measles cases" plagued Manatee Bay Elementary, where the Washington Post reported six cases of the viral infection have been confirmed.
In the letter, Ladapo noted it is common for unvaccinated people or those with no history of prior infection to remain home for up to 21 days. He said the virus can be transmitted in this time period.
However, he moves on to say the Florida Department of Public Health is placing the choice of school attendance in the hands of parents and guardians.
" ... due to the high immunity rate in the community, as well as the burden on families and educational cost of healthy children missing school, DOH is deferring to parents or guardians to make decisions about school attendance. This recommendation may change as epidemiological investigations continue," Ladapo said in the letter.
"Broward County School District is prepared to provide continuous learning to all children at Manatee Bay Elementary School whose parents/guardians choose to keep them at home. If someone in your household contracts measles, all members of the household should consider themselves exposed and monitor symptoms."
Ladapo said it is usually advised that students stay home until the end of the infectious period, which is currently March 7. This date can change.
A third-grader was the most recent measles case reported to the Florida Department of Health in Broward County.
Six people have been diagnosed with measles in the outbreak at Manatee Bay Elementary School in Weston, NBC News reported.
Measles is spread through the air by breathing, coughing, or sneezing. It can be transmitted four days before the rash becomes visible to four days after the rash appears. The symptoms of measles generally begin approximately 8 to 14 days, after a person is exposed to someone with measles, with a range of 7 to 21 days.
An infectious disease expert at Florida International University advises vaccination against the measles virus.
“The letter doesn’t explicitly say we need to get more people vaccinated, and that is a key point that families need to know,” Dr. Aileen Marty told NBC News Miami.
Ladapo has already been in the spotlight after reportedly calling for the end of COVID-19 vaccine use, the Washington Post said.
DAVIE, FLA. (WSVN) - The cleanup was underway on Monday after a stormy day in South Florida.The National Weather Service said an EF-Zero tornado whipped through a small neighborhood in Davie near Nova Village Drive ripping down a tree onto a home and tearing a bumper off of a car.“I started hearing crashing. I’m like ‘Oh no! It’s a tornado. I’m out of here,'” said Giancarlo Gonzalez.Fourteen-year-old Gonzalez was inside his home when the tree fell onto and through his roof. The damage ...
DAVIE, FLA. (WSVN) - The cleanup was underway on Monday after a stormy day in South Florida.
The National Weather Service said an EF-Zero tornado whipped through a small neighborhood in Davie near Nova Village Drive ripping down a tree onto a home and tearing a bumper off of a car.
“I started hearing crashing. I’m like ‘Oh no! It’s a tornado. I’m out of here,'” said Giancarlo Gonzalez.
Fourteen-year-old Gonzalez was inside his home when the tree fell onto and through his roof. The damage could be seen in their attic.
“I just see the roof, just coming down!” said Gonzalez.
Just a few houses down from Gonzalez’s home, JC Mondesir was almost blown away while working out in the yard when the tornado touched down.
“I would take a hurricane over a tornado any day. A tornado you can prepare for but a tornado, nope.” said Mondesir. “I went over here and I went down like this!! Spread my legs and then I could see that tree go, I saw the branches coming! I saw those going and then I started praying and then I heard the chimes start going ‘ringringringringring,’ the chimes started spinning like this, started spinning! I’m hearing them go ‘dingdingdingding!’ I’m like ‘Oh no!’ and then it just stops.”
Mondesir thanked God for saving his life.
“God put me in the right spot at the right time. Saved my life.” said Mondesir.
7News cameras captured cars in a nearby Carmax parking lot trapped by a tree.
“Around 2:30 in the afternoon, a cell developed in Miami-Dade County and moved northeast through Broward County,” said National Weather Service Science Operations Officer Donal Harrigan.
Harrigan spoke to 7News as he surveyed the damage done to Mondesir’s home by the tornado.
“Any time we get a cold front that comes through here in the winter time, especially during an El Nino year, where they tend to be more dynamic, they have stronger winds. Any time a frontal boundary approaches, there’s the potential to have some tornadoes along with it,” said Harrigan.
People impacted by the storms told 7News that they are thankful to be alive as material things can be replaced but a life cannot.
Officials urged residents to stay prepared for days like Sunday because the impact is widespread.
Events such as the Coconut Grove Art Festival was shutdown, trees fell all over Pembroke Pines, a waterspout turned into a tornado in Cudjoe Key and a Tamarac woman had part of her roof collapse from water damage on Sunday. No injuries were reported.
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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If Sunday’s thunderstorms and high gusts of wind made you feel like a twister was whizzing by, you may have been right.The National Weather Service in Miami and Key West confirmed Monday that five tornadoes touched down in South Florida over Presidents’ Day weekend.Specific locations ranged from as far south as Cudjoe Key in the Lower Keys to as far north as Oakland Park in Broward County. The severe weather left some damage behind but no deaths or injuries.In a post shared on X, formerly Twitter, Miami&rsquo...
If Sunday’s thunderstorms and high gusts of wind made you feel like a twister was whizzing by, you may have been right.
The National Weather Service in Miami and Key West confirmed Monday that five tornadoes touched down in South Florida over Presidents’ Day weekend.
Specific locations ranged from as far south as Cudjoe Key in the Lower Keys to as far north as Oakland Park in Broward County. The severe weather left some damage behind but no deaths or injuries.
In a post shared on X, formerly Twitter, Miami’s weather service officials said they reviewed storm data in addition to surveying social media and the grounds extensively, ultimately concluding that the tornadoes occurred.
The first in mainland South Florida touched down at 2:57 p.m. Sunday on Krome Avenue in south Miami-Dade County, causing some damage to vegetation there.
Meteorologists couldn’t immediately determine its rating on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, or EF Scale, which experts use to rate a tornado’s wind speed and related damage. They also could not immediately calculate its estimated peak winds, path length or maximum width.
The second tornado arrived about 20 minutes later at 3:20 p.m., hitting in Broward, namely Miramar and Pembroke Pines.
Meteorologists calculated its EF rating at 0, meaning it generated three-second gusts of winds as fast as 65-85 miles per hour. They also put its peak winds at 75 miles per hour and its noncontinuous path at just over 3.5 miles.
The phenomenon was as wide as 100 yards, the weather experts added, and it toppled some tree branches and uprooted some trees entirely.
The third tornado also took place at 3:33 p.m. in Broward, this time near Cooper City, Davie and Plantation. Its path also lasted about 3.4 miles, but its maximum width was larger, at 350 yards. It was also rated an EF-0 tornado and its peak winds came at 80 miles per hour. The third also affected some trees.
READ MORE: It’s about to feel colder in South Florida. Here’s how low the wind chill could get
The fourth tornado happened at 3:55 p.m., a bit farther north in Broward at Oakland Park. Witnesses told meteorologists they saw a tornado “flipping several cars” in a residential neighborhood. Experts could not immediately determine its EF rating, peak winds, path length or max width.
Tornado Four- Location: Oakland Park - Broward CountyRating: UnknownPath Length: N/AMaximum Width: 350 yardsDamage: Witnesses described a tornado flipping several cars within a residential neighborhood in the city of Oakland Park. pic.twitter.com/VIrZH5sqHp
— NWS Miami (@NWSMiami) February 19, 2024
A water spout turned into a tornado in the Lower Keys around noon Sunday, according to the National Weather Service in Key West.
The EF-0 tornado, up to 150 yards wide, was captured on video as it entered through Cudjoe Bay and traversed Cudjoe and Big Torch keys for about a mile with a max wind speed of 85 mph, the weather agency said Wednesday.
The top portion of a tree fell onto a manufactured residence, causing major wall damage, the agency said. Numerous roofing panels flew as far as 300 yards.
A preliminary damage survey for an EF0 tornado that moved across portions of Cudjoe Key and Big Torch Key this past Sunday was released yesterday.The full statement can be found here: https://t.co/tmNosXV1vO#keywest #floridakeys #flkeys #flwx #marathonflorida pic.twitter.com/nIqbT4PYTM
— NWS Key West (@NWSKeyWest) February 21, 2024
This story was originally published February 19, 2024, 5:38 PM.