# Smarter Drayage Delivers Profit and Reliability

By Mike Bush · Published 2025-08-27 · Updated 2026-05-19 · Transportation on MarketScale
Canonical: https://www.marketscale.com/industries/transportation/smarter-drayage-delivers-profit-and-reliability
Creator hub: Hammer Down

> Drayage, the short-haul transport of containers from ports to warehouses, has become a critical link in global logistics. E-commerce growth and shifting supply chain strategies have pushed this step into sharper focus. U.S. containerized imports totaled 28,196,462 TEUs in 2024, a 13 percent increase from the previous year, underscoring the rising demand for port-to-warehouse…

## Key points

- Wayfair's CastleGate team balances drayage rate negotiations with margin optimization to keep port-to-warehouse costs competitive.
- U.S. containerized imports reached 28.2 million TEUs in 2024, a 13% year-over-year increase, intensifying pressure on drayage efficiency.
- Cross-training across supply chain functions is key preparation for effective drayage management, according to Griffin.

Block Field

Drayage, the short-haul transport of containers from ports to warehouses, has become a critical link in global logistics. E-commerce growth and shifting supply chain strategies have pushed this step into sharper focus. U.S. containerized imports totaled [28,196,462 TEUs in 2024](https://www.ajot.com/premium/ajot-top-us-container-ports-post-gains-in-24), a 13 percent increase from the previous year, underscoring the rising demand for port-to-warehouse transport. Delays at this stage create ripple effects across entire networks, impacting both costs and customer expectations.

How do major retailers like Wayfair ensure drayage is reliable, efficient, and profitable while maintaining long-term supplier relationships?

On this episode of [*Hammer Down*,](https://marketscale.com/shows/hammer-down/) host [Mike Bush](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mbush/) speaks with [Summer Griffin](https://www.linkedin.com/in/summer-griffin-912743119/), Drayage Procurement Manager at [Wayfair](https://www.wayfair.com/). Griffin shares her path from ocean carriers to her current leadership role at [CastleGate](https://sell.wayfair.com/operate-castlegate-overview), Wayfair’s freight forwarding arm. Their conversation explores how her team manages procurement, profit optimization, and supplier partnerships to keep goods moving smoothly.

**Key Points from the Conversation:**

-  **The dual role of procurement and profit management:** Griffin explains how her team negotiates drayage rates while optimizing margins for CastleGate. 
-  **What makes drayage unique:** From port arrivals to warehouse delivery, drayage plays a specialized role in domestic distribution. 
-  **Career insights for supply chain newcomers:** Griffin emphasizes the importance of cross-training across supply chain functions for effective drayage management. 

Summer Griffin is the Procurement Manager for Drayage at Wayfair, where she leads carrier negotiations, profit management, and cost-saving initiatives for CastleGate Forwarding. She brings over eight years of experience in supply chain operations, beginning her career with K-Line and Ocean Network Express, where she developed expertise in equipment management, procurement, and large-scale system integrations during a global merger. Griffin is recognized for strengthening drayage networks through vendor partnerships, operational improvements, and cross-functional collaboration.

*Article written by MarketScale.*

Tags: CastleGate, drayage procurement, Summer Griffin, supply chain, Wayfair

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