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 Raleigh, NC 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 Raleigh, NC, 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 Raleigh, 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 Raleigh, 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.
Traditionally seasonal pools open on Memorial Day weekend, unofficially signaling the beginning of summer. It's not Memorial Day yet, but many pools and spraygrounds in and around Raleigh have already opened for the season.Check out this list of five places to swimming right now!Jack Smith ParkThis Cary sprayground is typically open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, weather permitting. It ...
Traditionally seasonal pools open on Memorial Day weekend, unofficially signaling the beginning of summer. It's not Memorial Day yet, but many pools and spraygrounds in and around Raleigh have already opened for the season.
Check out this list of five places to swimming right now!
This Cary sprayground is typically open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, weather permitting. It features seven water features and is great for children ages 12 and younger. This 50-acre tract of land also includes a playground and 10-foot tall climbing rock. You can check the status of the sprayground by going online, but note that it will be closed for maintenance dates: Jun 12, Jul 10 and Aug 14, Sep 11.
Cost: Free
Location: 9725 Penny Road, Cary, NC
Enjoy the interactive water feature at this downtown Raleigh park through November 2023. The splash pad is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m (weather permitting). Moore Square is in downtown Raleigh, across from Marbles Kids Museum, at 200 S. Blount St. It's also home to Square Burger, which is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, with burgers, hot dogs and salads.
Cost: Free
Location: 201 S. Blount St., Raleigh, NC
This splashpad is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Sunday. The water feature is disabled during inclement weather and no lifeguard is on duty. Children who are not potty trained must wear swim diapers. Get more information about the sprayground and playground which opened after renovations in 2021.
Cost: Free
Location: 505 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Raleigh, NC
This indoor pool has waterslides, a vortex whirlpool, lazy river and a smaller area for toddlers. It opened more than 1- years ago! There have been lifeguard shortages, so make sure to check the day you plan to attend to find out which attractions are open. Also, go early on weekends because there can be a wait-list! Best time to go: First thing in the morning during the week.
Cost: $4 for residents/$7 for non-residents ages 1-12 years old; $8 for residents/$15 for non-residents ages 13-55 years old; $6 for residents/$11 for non-residents ages 55 years and older
Location: 5908 Buffaloe Road, Raleigh, NC
Wake Forest's first sprayground is open for the season. It features 16 jet streams, buckets and more fun. Just press the activator button on top of the orange pole and the sprayground will produce a water flow in four-minute intervals.
Cost: Free
Location: 416 N. Taylor St., Wake Forest, NC
This indoor pool is great for families to enjoy during the week. Recreational swimming is open Monday through Thursday and on Fridays it stays open until 8 p.m. In 2018, the facility underwent $6 million in renovations including roof repairs, lighting adjustments and other work.
Cost: $2 for residents/$3 for non-residents ages 1-12 years old; $5 for residents/$8 for non-residents ages 13-55 years old; $4 for residents/$6 for non-residents ages 55 years and older
Location: 410 Ashe Ave., Raleigh, NC
Many pools and spraygrounds in the Triangle open Memorial Day weekend. Find a pool near you by checking out our guide!
A coastal North Carolina seafood brand is building an inland empire.Cape Fear Seafood Company will open its third Triangle location next week in Wake Forest. The new location follows restaurants in North Raleigh and The Village District.The Wake Forest restaurant is located at 3612 Roger’s Branch Road in the Wheatfield Plaza shopping center.The first Triangle location ...
A coastal North Carolina seafood brand is building an inland empire.
Cape Fear Seafood Company will open its third Triangle location next week in Wake Forest. The new location follows restaurants in North Raleigh and The Village District.
The Wake Forest restaurant is located at 3612 Roger’s Branch Road in the Wheatfield Plaza shopping center.
The first Triangle location opened in 2019 in the former Kamado Grill location in North Raleigh.
This will mark the second Cape Fear opening in Wake County this year, following the Village District restaurant opening in January.
The brand first launched in Wilmington in 2008 and now evenly divides its six restaurants between there and the Triangle.
The Triangle locations are owned by a franchise group of longtime Cape Fear employees Eddie Elliott and Matt Wivell.
“We have been fortunate to enjoy growth in a Raleigh area that already boasts some of the most iconic seafood restaurants in the state. We don’t take that for granted,” said Elliott. “We have succeeded because of a mission of hospitality, a dedication to quality ingredients, and a desire to stay true to what we know: serving up delicious seafood. We are confident our new Wake Forest location will be true to that.”
Cape Fear’s menu includes the kind of broad seafood experience that’s familiar when visiting the coast. Popular dishes include shrimp and grits, stuffed flounder and an array of fried seafood platters.
As it has for previous openings, the Wake Forest Cape Fear Seafood will hold charity dinners for the first few nights of service May 25-28. The nights are reservation only and 50 percent of sales will be donated to The First Tee of the Triangle, The Joel Fund and The Trawick Pediatric Cardiology Fund at Duke Children’s Hospital.
“Giving back to these three dynamic causes while celebrating our opening feels extra special,” said Eddie Elliott, Franchise Partner for Wake County. “Everyone associated with the restaurant has an ethos of service – from the greeters to the wait staff and cooks, all the way through how we give back to organizations that do so much for the community that we love so much.”
A half-eaten bowl of chicken and rice sat in Frederik Andersen’s empty locker, sustenance consumed during the sixth intermission. A cart full of more of those bowls, plus fresh fruit and yogurt, sat outside the door to the Carolina Hurricanes’ locker room, prepared for a seventh intermission that wouldn’t come.Inside, players limped and staggered through the locker room like they had awoken from a long slumber, bags of ice attached to all kinds of body parts — ankles, knees, hip flexors. Jesper Fast barely peda...
A half-eaten bowl of chicken and rice sat in Frederik Andersen’s empty locker, sustenance consumed during the sixth intermission. A cart full of more of those bowls, plus fresh fruit and yogurt, sat outside the door to the Carolina Hurricanes’ locker room, prepared for a seventh intermission that wouldn’t come.
Inside, players limped and staggered through the locker room like they had awoken from a long slumber, bags of ice attached to all kinds of body parts — ankles, knees, hip flexors. Jesper Fast barely pedaled an exercise bike, sullenly.
It may not be a broken group, after losing the sixth-longest game in NHL history, but it is certainly a battered one.
To play that long, into the darkening shadow of a seventh overtime, and come away with nothing leaves a challenge that is as much mental as it is physical. You can’t win a series in Game 1, but you can certainly lose it, especially when that game drags on until almost 2 a.m.
“We lost the first one, but you’ve got to just sleep on it and come back the next day and start fresh,” Hurricanes forward Martin Necas said, even if the next day was already here.
That is the crossroads where the Hurricanes now find themselves, 3-2 losers to the Florida Panthers in a conference-final opener that went on and on and on and on, until the least likely of culprits made the fatal mistake. Jaccob Slavin turned it over in the neutral zone. First Brent Burns and then Slavin failed to get the puck out. And Matthew Tkachuk, who had barely done a thing all night, came swooping off the boards to beat the phenomenal Andersen after 139 minutes and 47 seconds of hockey.
Less than a minute earlier, Sebastian Aho had a wide-open look at the post but couldn’t elevate the puck over Sergei Bobrovsky’s right pad. These are the fine margins by which games and series and championships are won and lost — the Panthers even had a would-be winner disallowed for goaltender interference in the first overtime, which in retrospect would have been merciful — and no one knows that better than Rod Brind’Amour, who was trailing the decisive play in what had until Thursday-slash-Friday been the longest game in franchise history.
Igor Larionov beat Bates Battaglia to the net to score late in the third overtime to give the Detroit Red Wings a 2-1 lead in the 2002 Stanley Cup finals, and that was that. All of their very old legs were suddenly rejuvenated; the momentum the Hurricanes brought home with them from Detroit after winning the opener there in overtime evaporated. That game was the series, and not only in hindsight. Everyone knew it at the time.
Paul Maurice was on the losing side of that one, and the winning side Friday morning, and for a brief period of time in the third overtime was the coach for the longest games in both teams’ history. There was a lot of that going on as the clock kept ticking, digging deeper and deeper into the NHL record book, and again when it ended.
The Hurricanes’ seven-game overtime winning streak came to an end. They lost an OT playoff game at home for the first time since 2009. They fell to 1-6 all time in multiple-OT games, with three of those losses in this building, and a fourth in Greensboro. Interestingly enough, of those five previous series — they lost a pair to Nashville in 2021 — they’ve ended up winning the past two, despite the lengthy losses. But that hasn’t been the case in NHL history. Of the five games that went longer than this one, the winning team won all five series.
So it’s a long climb back from this for the Hurricanes after their first overtime playoff loss at home since 2009, and in a series that goes every other night, as relentlessly as this game wore on into the night, playing from Thursday into Friday leaves precious little time to regroup after being “on the shitty side of it,” as Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal said.
At some point in these intervening 40 hours, the Hurricanes will have to stand up straight, shake off the bruises, flush the lactic acid and clear their minds of the feeling that they lost twice in one night. It only counts once in the series, as they’re all quick to say, but there’s no guarantee that’s the truth. They still have to make it so.
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This story was originally published May 19, 2023, 3:01 AM.
RALEIGH, N.C. — You can soon walk through more of downtown Raleigh with a cup of alcohol.What You Need To Know The Raleigh City Council has voted to expand the social district and the hours for fun. The extended hours of operation and added areas will begin on Aug. 15....
RALEIGH, N.C. — You can soon walk through more of downtown Raleigh with a cup of alcohol.
The Raleigh City Council has voted to expand the social district and the hours for fun. The extended hours of operation and added areas will begin on Aug. 15.
#ICYMI I am sure most of you are watching the Carolina Hurricanes. (as you should be) For those of you seeing this, the Raleigh City Council has approved an expansion of the downtown social district. Current boundaries are in, and future boundaries are purple. @SpecNews1RDU pic.twitter.com/zHWjDZx2YD
— Patrick Karl Thomas (@PatThomasNews) May 19, 2023
What’s better than ordering a drink at one joint and bee-bopping over to another with the same adult beverage? Kim Miller said just about nothing.
“I'm hoping it can definitely bring some new faces our way,” Miller said.
Miller is the general manager of the Flying Saucer in downtown and has been for three years.
“It was good. It was definitely welcoming news,” Miller said.
The city council is adding more streets, cross-streets and parts of downtown to the Sip N’ Stroll District. When Miller heard that, all she could see were dollar signs.
Due to rave reviews taken from survey participants, the city council is widening the open container policy to more of the Warehouse District and portions of the Capital District up to Hillsborough Street.
Some of the feedback the city council received is that the social district HAS led to increased sales. There have been little to no issues with public intoxication, and the area for open containers needs more permanent signage. @SpecNews1RDU pic.twitter.com/xG8S7Vz55v
— Patrick Karl Thomas (@PatThomasNews) May 19, 2023
The boundaries extend to West Morgan Street where you can find Miller's draught emporium.
“I feel like the city is always doing things to bring business down our way. Really kind of help out businesses that are in downtown Raleigh so that is nice,” Miller said.
Miller said the restaurant has averaged $55,000 a week in sales after lifting safety restrictions, which beats its pre-pandemic revenue in 2019.
“It’s been really good. Honestly, since the pandemic, we’ve seen a boom in business,” she said.
Based on feedback from other downtown bars and restaurants, the social district has been financially good for them, too.
Furthermore, 77% of survey respondents appear to see the social district has a positive addition to the downtown area. @SpecNews1RDU pic.twitter.com/7200SiEdQS
— Patrick Karl Thomas (@PatThomasNews) May 19, 2023.
All of this comes as the restaurant celebrates its 23rd anniversary this weekend. Plus, who can say no to patio season when the weather is warm, the drinks are cold and the company is good.
Below are some of the things to keep in mind while sipping and strolling:
• More areas where you can carry your to-go beverage and more establishments that can participate
• Change in operating hours from 10 a.m.-10 p.m., seven days per week
• New permanent signs throughout the social district area
• New permanent trash and recycling receptacles
Moore Square and Nash Square are not part of the expansion.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Piece by piece and block by block, the “Art of the Brick” Exhibition in Raleigh is bringing creativity and art to a whole new dimension.“When you get to see it in person, it’s not like you’re going into an art museum and seeing a painting on a wall,” said Ryan Haines, an operations manager with the Exhibition Hub.Haines said the contemporary art exhibition features more than 90 pieces of work that are all created by more than a million LEGO bricks.The artis...
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Piece by piece and block by block, the “Art of the Brick” Exhibition in Raleigh is bringing creativity and art to a whole new dimension.
“When you get to see it in person, it’s not like you’re going into an art museum and seeing a painting on a wall,” said Ryan Haines, an operations manager with the Exhibition Hub.
Haines said the contemporary art exhibition features more than 90 pieces of work that are all created by more than a million LEGO bricks.
The artist, Nathan Sawaya, left his job as a lawyer and has become known as one of the best LEGO builders in the world. The Art of the Brick exhibit has been seen by millions of people and has toured more than 100 cities and 24 countries. It features some of Sawaya’s own creative work as well as art inspired by masterpieces including Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’ and Leonardo Da Vinci’s ‘Mona Lisa.’
“We were excited to bring it to the Triangle area—it’s been a long time coming since we wanted to bring it to Raleigh and it was the perfect time to bring it,” Haines said.
Haines said the art exhibition replaces the popular Van Gogh Immersive Experience at Pleasant Valley Promenade.
Buddy Lipscomb, who visited from California, decided to take his two grandchildren to the exhibition on opening day.
“There’s a lot of detail and you have to stop and examine it hard to really see it all,” he said.
Lipscomb said Sawaya’s work brought back memories of his son who also grew up playing with LEGOs. Pointing to his grandchildren, he added,
“The kids have followed after that and they have tons of LEGOs,” he added. “It’s really cool to see the sculptures, the way they were built, and the imagination behind it.”
Haines said the sculptures are not only sparking childhood memories for some, but he said the artist also hopes to demonstrate the potential of creativity and imagination. Through several rooms,
Haines said visitors can see a variety of the artist’s work—it’s open to the whole family. Haines said at the end of the exhibit, visitors and children can also have an opportunity to use their own creativity where they can build their own LEGO sculptures and color Sawaya’s work to see it displayed electronically.
The exhibit runs through the summer and is free for children under the age of four. For more information, click here.