A terminal handling charge, or THC, is the fee a port terminal charges for moving cargo through its facility: lifting containers on and off the ship, transferring them across the yard, and short-term positioning. The charge applies at the origin terminal and again at the destination terminal, and it sits separate from the ocean freight on the carrier’s bill. Rates vary by port, container size, and cargo type.
THC is one of the standard add-ons that turn a base ocean rate into a full landed cost, alongside fuel and documentation fees. Texas International Freight itemizes terminal and handling charges on your ocean freight so the shipping cost holds no surprises.
