Inland haulage charges (IHC) are the costs of moving cargo over land between a port, airport, rail terminal, or warehouse and another inland point. In international shipping, the term usually refers to the trucking or drayage portion that connects the main overseas leg to the shipper’s or consignee’s location.
Where IHC Applies
IHC commonly appears in ocean freight quotations, especially when a container must be delivered to a port for export or collected from a port after import. Depending on the routing and contract, these charges may be billed by the carrier, a freight forwarder, a trucking company, or another logistics provider involved in the inland move.
The amount can depend on distance, fuel, container size, accessorials, and local market conditions, so it is best viewed as a separate inland cost rather than part of the ocean or air freight base rate. Responsibility for IHC also depends on the Incoterms, booking terms, and whether the shipment is moving under door-to-port, port-to-door, or door-to-door service. For example, an importer receiving a container at an inland U.S. warehouse may see one inland haulage charge for pickup from the port and another for final delivery if storage, chassis use, or extra handling is involved.