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 El Paso, TX 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 El Paso, TX, 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 El Paso, 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 El Paso, 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.
EL PASO, Texas (NewsNation) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced it is temporarily suspending cargo processing at the Bridge of the Americas in El Paso as a way to help agents deal with a surge in migrant crossings.The pause will free up border officers ...
EL PASO, Texas (NewsNation) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced it is temporarily suspending cargo processing at the Bridge of the Americas in El Paso as a way to help agents deal with a surge in migrant crossings.
The pause will free up border officers to help process migrants who cross illegally, but will force truckers who usually make that crossing to find other routes.
It is one of several fallback options CBP says it uses to make sure it can process migrants efficiently.
The last time a pause was enforced was back in April before the end of Title 42, a pandemic-era border policy. That’s when data shows the number of migrant crossings across the southern border plunged.
Now, the data reveals those numbers are creeping back up again in some sectors. El Paso data shows CBP migrant encounters are the highest since May.
Texas Sheriff Thaddeus Cleveland, a former Border Patrol officer, says this is not a good sign.
“At the ports of entry, you have field operation officers, and they’re there to make sure legitimate trade and travel passes to and from the United States. So we’re taking those people from those ports of entry to help Border Patrol because there’s simply not enough border patrol agents,” Cleveland said.
Truckers who use the Bridge of the Americas will instead need to go through other crossing points in New Mexico and Texas.
In April, officials suspended all commercial operations for three days at the same bridge for the same reason.
The head of a truckers’ association in Juarez, Mexico, told Border Report back then that the detours and long lines could cost the industry $10 million per day.
Last week, CBP also closed Ped West, a pedestrian border crossing between Tijuana and San Diego, to free up additional officers to help with migrant processing. CBP facilities in the San Diego area have been over capacity, with agents dropping off hundreds of migrants in daily street releases.
“CBP is working according to plan and as part of our standard processes to quickly decompress the areas along the southwest border, and safely and efficiently screen and process migrants to place them in immigration enforcement proceedings consistent with our laws,” CBP said in a statement.
Additionally, street releases of dozens of migrants in rural Cochise County in Arizona last week are prompting concern and frustration among local officials.
“We don’t have the basic essentials and needs that most people have. That’s why they take them to urban areas where they have more logistical support,” Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels said.
The Mexican government said cargo processing at the Juarez-El Paso crossing should open in two or three days, according to Reuters.
However, U.S. officials have not given a timeline to when the crossing will reopen.
An El Paso cryptocurrency investor who squandered his clients' money by financing a high life of luxury cars, private jets and diamond jewelry has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison, the U.S. Attorney's Office said Tuesday.Abner Alejandro Tinoco, 27, was convicted of wire fraud in a $9 million Ponzi-style scheme with his company, Kikit & Mess Investments, which deceived investors by using their money to finance a luxury lifestyle, authorities said.Kikit & Mess Investments was founded in 2020 ...
An El Paso cryptocurrency investor who squandered his clients' money by financing a high life of luxury cars, private jets and diamond jewelry has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison, the U.S. Attorney's Office said Tuesday.
Abner Alejandro Tinoco, 27, was convicted of wire fraud in a $9 million Ponzi-style scheme with his company, Kikit & Mess Investments, which deceived investors by using their money to finance a luxury lifestyle, authorities said.
Kikit & Mess Investments was founded in 2020 and had its office in Downtown El Paso's upscale Mills Building. The company dissolved in June 2022, online corporate records showed.
In January, Tinoco pleaded guilty to five counts of wire fraud in U.S. District Court in El Paso following an investigation by the FBI El Paso's Complex Financial Crimes Task Force. He had faced up to 20 years in prison.
More:Lamborghini, horses and diamonds: El Paso crypto investor pleads guilty to fraud
Federal prosecutors said that Tinoco solicited millions of dollars from investors by claiming he was managing "customized client portfolios" to trade in cryptocurrency and foreign exchange markets.
Out of more than $9 million in investments, Tinoco spent more than half on personal expenses, including luxury cars, chartered private jets, real estate and jewelry, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas said in a statement. Some funds were misrepresented as "profits" to his clients as part of the Ponzi scheme.
Among items purchased by Tinoco were three homes in the Upper Valley and West Side, a leased Lamborghini given to a Beverly Hills diamond dealer in exchange for diamonds, and two horses named Velvet Jac and The Perfect Pair, according to a report by a court-appointed receiver tasked with recovering investors' lost money.
In a separate civil case, the Commodities Futures Trading Commission obtained a civil consent decree against Tinoco and his business, imposing a ban on trading activity, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. The Department of Justice is working on getting restitution for Tinoco's victims. A restitution hearing is scheduled for next year.
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"This defendant manufactured a predatory scheme, investing less than half a percent of funds from over a dozen victims who trusted him with millions of dollars in investments," U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas said in a statement.
"We will continue to strongly prosecute rapacious fraudsters who take advantage of unsuspecting victims while also holding the defendants responsible for those victims' lost funds," Esparza said.
Amazon employees can now access University’s bachelor’s programsEL PASO, Texas (Nov. 2, 2023) – The University of Texas at El Paso has been selected as an education partner for Amazon’s Career Choice program, which supports Amazon hourly employees who opt to complete their bachelor’s degree at the University.“We’re very proud to offer Amazon employees the opportunity to pursue any of our 75 excellent bachelor’s programs and look forward to supporting their future success,”...
EL PASO, Texas (Nov. 2, 2023) – The University of Texas at El Paso has been selected as an education partner for Amazon’s Career Choice program, which supports Amazon hourly employees who opt to complete their bachelor’s degree at the University.
“We’re very proud to offer Amazon employees the opportunity to pursue any of our 75 excellent bachelor’s programs and look forward to supporting their future success,” said Vice President for Enrollment Management Amanda Vasquez, Ph.D.
Amazon’s Career Choice program has a rigorous selection process for third-party partner educators, choosing partners that are focused on helping employees through their education programs, assisting with job placements and offering an overall education that leads to career success.
“Our University’s commitment to an excellent education is attracting attention,” said Vice Provost for Advising, Academic Success and Student Support Heather Smith, Ph.D. “Our holistic and integrated advising model is designed to assist students with balancing educational aspirations with external commitments in order to achieve success. I look forward to our partnership and meeting Amazon employees who will be pursuing their degrees at UTEP.”
Amazon’s Career Choice program is an education benefit that empowers employees to learn new skills for career success at Amazon or elsewhere. The program meets individual learners where they are on their education journey through a variety of education and upskilling opportunities including pre-paid college tuition and industry certifications designed to lead to in-demand jobs.
In the U.S., the company is investing $1.2 billion to upskill more than 300,000 employees by 2025 to help move them into higher-paying, in-demand jobs.
“We’re looking forward to UTEP coming on board as an education partner for Career Choice, adding to the hundreds of best-in-class offerings available to our employees,” said Tammy Thieman, Global Program Lead of Amazon’s Career Choice program. “We’re committed to empowering our employees by providing them access to the education and training they need to grow their careers, whether that’s with us or elsewhere. We have intentionally created a partner network of third-party educators and employers committed to providing excellent education, job placement resources, and continuous improvements to the experience.”
For more information on Amazon’s Career Choice, visit: https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/workplace/career-choice
Sophomore quarterback Jake Fette has certainly come a long way in his first year on the Del Valle varsity football team.Playing at a high level, Fette has helped lead the Conquistadores to an 8-1 overall record and 4-0 mark in District 1-5A Division I headed into Friday's home against Bel Air, which is 3-1 in district play. It is the final regular season game for both teams."Jake is poised, he's confident and he's stepped up at key times for us," Del Valle coach Rudy Contreras said. "He's getting b...
Sophomore quarterback Jake Fette has certainly come a long way in his first year on the Del Valle varsity football team.
Playing at a high level, Fette has helped lead the Conquistadores to an 8-1 overall record and 4-0 mark in District 1-5A Division I headed into Friday's home against Bel Air, which is 3-1 in district play. It is the final regular season game for both teams.
"Jake is poised, he's confident and he's stepped up at key times for us," Del Valle coach Rudy Contreras said. "He's getting better all the time and he's working hard to be the best he can be."
The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Fette has passed for 1,943 yards and 23 touchdowns and rushed for another 288 yards and 11 touchdowns. And that's with missing a portion of two games early in the season as he recovered from a concussion. Fette has been key to Del Valle's seven-game win streak since an early season loss to Pebble Hills.
"It's been a growing experience for me this season and I've learned a great deal," Fette said. "I've grown more comfortable as the season has gone on and it's been a great team effort to get where we are today. Guys have stepped up when we've had injuries and have done a great job. Every game has been a learning experience for me and I'm enjoying the process. Friday's game is a big one for us, we want to close out the regular season with a district title and have momentum going into the playoffs."
Fette was a key contributor on the varsity basketball team last season, which made the playoffs. That experience has helped him prepare for the varsity football level.
"Playing varsity basketball was great for me last season," Fette said. "I learned a lot about pressure situations and playing against good, skillful athletes and dealing with the physical aspect of the game."
Fette also competes in track and field, but it's football that is his passion. His father, Rick, was played defensive end at UTEP from 1999-2002, has been a major influence in his career and currently is an assistant coach for Del Valle, where he has coached for 15 seasons.
"We had a good quarterback last season in Jesse Ramos and it was going to be tough to come after him," Rick said. "I was worried about Jake in that spot, but he's always exceeded my expectations, he's always been successful. I've been impressed with how he has handled things and he never gets rattled even when things are nerve wracking."
Added Jake: "My dad has been a great supporter in my life and he's influenced me in so many ways. He wants me to love the game and be happy doing it. He has a great knowledge of the game and loves the game so much."
More: HS Football newsEl Paso Times' HS Football Game of the Week: Bel Air visits Del Valle in key 5A D-I game
Felix F. Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on X (Formerly Twitter)