Freight Operations / Accessorials
Detention in trucking
Plain-English explanation
Detention is compensation a carrier earns when a driver waits at a shipper or receiver beyond the free time specified in the rate confirmation. The most common structure gives the driver two hours at pickup and two hours at delivery without charge; once that window closes, detention begins accumulating at an agreed hourly rate — typically $25 to $75 per hour depending on the broker and lane. The clock starts at different moments depending on the rate confirmation language. Some agreements measure free time from the scheduled appointment; others start from the driver's actual check-in. This distinction matters when the driver arrives early or the dock is running behind — a driver who checks in 90 minutes before an appointment may or may not have that time count toward free time, depending on the written terms. For the carrier, detention is about recovery of real economic loss. A driver waiting at a loading dock is consuming hours-of-service time, delaying the next load, and blocking the truck from earning freight revenue. Two uncompensated hours of waiting at a facility effectively reduce the rate per hour on that load. For the broker, detention is a cost they may have to absorb or recover from the shipper. Many brokers require real-time notification when detention starts — the driver or dispatcher must contact the broker the moment free time expires, not after the truck rolls. Missing this notification requirement is the most common reason a legitimate detention claim gets reduced or denied. For the shipper, detention at origin is often a dock-management issue: slow loading, late freight, equipment shortages, or understaffed receiving windows. At delivery, the consignee is responsible for the unloading process. The shipper and consignee may be different entities with different attention to the clock. Detention is different from layover, which typically refers to an overnight or multi-hour delay outside normal operations. It is different from TONU (truck ordered not used), which applies when a load is canceled after the driver has been dispatched. Detention is specifically facility wait time beyond free time while the load is still expected to move.
For detention, the clock matters. Check the appointment time, arrival time, dock release time, free-time rule, and how the broker wants approval documented.
Why it matters in trucking
Detention documentation determines whether it gets paid. A driver who records check-in time, monitors the free time window, and notifies the broker in writing when detention starts has a supported claim. A driver who calls dispatch two hours after delivery to mention they waited a long time is starting from a much weaker position. Most rate confirmations have a notification requirement — some require a phone call, others require email or text confirmation. Missing the notification window is treated by many brokers as a waiver of the detention claim. The practical rule: contact the broker the moment free time expires, get a timestamped written confirmation, and keep a copy of the facility check-in record as supporting documentation. Without those two pieces, detention disputes often resolve in the broker's favor.
Detention is easier to recover when the driver records times while still at the facility. Trying to rebuild the timeline days later usually weakens the request.
Example in real use
A driver checks in at a grocery warehouse at 7:55 a.m. for an 8:00 a.m. appointment. The dock runs behind schedule and the trailer is not released until 12:20 p.m. Free time on the rate confirmation is 2 hours from appointment time, so detention starts at 10:00 a.m. The dispatcher texts the broker at 10:03 a.m. to notify that free time has expired. The broker responds with approval. The carrier submits the invoice with the check-in slip, the detention approval text, and the release time noted on the BOL — detention for 2 hours and 20 minutes at $50/hour, totaling $116.67 rounded to 2.5 hours at $50.
How to build a detention record
Detention is easiest to recover when the timeline is built while the truck is waiting. The driver should record arrival, check-in, door assignment if available, loading or unloading start, release time, and the person or system that confirmed those times.
Broker rules vary. Some want notice before free time expires. Some want facility stamps. Some want in/out times written on the BOL or POD. If the office waits until invoice time to ask, the proof may already be gone.
Detention proof to collect
- Appointment time, arrival time, check-in time, and release time.
- Free-time language from the rate confirmation.
- Broker approval or notice before the charge starts, if required.
- Facility timestamp, guard shack ticket, BOL note, POD note, or email trail.
Where it shows up
Detention shows up while the truck is still waiting and again when billing asks whether the delay can be charged. The useful record is made during the wait, not after everyone has moved on.
What to check first
- Appointment time, arrival time, dock time if known, and release time.
- Free-time rule and whether notice is required before detention starts.
- Facility timestamp, BOL in/out note, text approval, or broker email.
- Whether the delay was at pickup or delivery, because the approval path may differ.
Common mistakes or confusion
- Not notifying the broker in writing when free time expires — most rate confirmations require real-time notification, and waiting until after the load is delivered to mention detention is treated as a waiver by many brokers.
- Submitting a detention claim without the facility check-in record, the free time calculation, the release time, and the broker's written approval — missing any of these pieces gives the broker a reason to reduce or deny the charge.
- Confusing detention with layover — detention is facility wait time during a load that is still moving; layover is a separate accessorial for extended delays that require the driver to stop operations entirely for an extended period.
Related terms
Commonly confused with
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Last updated: 2026-05-10