Detention

A fee carriers charge shippers or receivers for keeping a driver beyond the standard two hours of free time for loading or unloading.

Detention, also known as driver detention, occurs when a driver is delayed at a shipping or receiving facility beyond the standard 'free time' period, which is typically two hours. A 2018 FMCSA study found that drivers experienced detention on approximately 1 in 10 stops. These delays can be caused by various issues, such as unprepared shipments, overbooked docks, or staffing shortages at the facility. Since the driver is unable to be productive and earning revenue during this waiting period, carriers charge an accessorial fee to compensate for the lost time. This fee is meant to cover the driver's wages and the truck's operational costs. To successfully claim detention pay, carriers must meticulously document arrival and departure times (in/out times) on the Bill of Lading and communicate the delay to the broker or shipper as soon as it becomes apparent, as per the terms on the rate confirmation.

How it is calculated

(Total Time at Facility - Free Time) * Hourly Detention Rate = Detention Pay

Example

A driver arrives for their 10:00 AM delivery appointment at 09:45. The facility does not finish unloading the truck until 14:15. With 2 hours of free time (until 12:00), the carrier bills the broker for 2.25 hours of detention at a pre-agreed rate of $75 per hour, totaling $168.75.