Understanding Detention Pay and How to Get It
You arrived on time. Now you've been sitting at the dock for four hours. Your clock is ticking, but your revenue isn't. This is detention—and you should be compensated for it.
What Is Detention?
Detention time is any time spent waiting at a shipper or receiver beyond what's considered reasonable for loading or unloading. Industry standard free time is typically 2 hours, though this varies.
Detention pay compensates you for this lost time.
Why It Matters
- HOS impact: Waiting burns your 14-hour clock without generating revenue
- Opportunity cost: Time spent waiting is time not earning on another load
- Operating costs: Idling, parking, lost productivity all cost money
Studies show trucks spend an average of over 3 hours at pickup/delivery. That's billions in lost productivity industry-wide.
Typical Detention Policies
- Free time: 1-2 hours before detention kicks in
- Rate: $50-$75 per hour is common
- Cap: Some policies cap total detention at a certain amount
- Documentation: Usually requires in/out times noted
Before Booking the Load
- Ask about detention policy upfront
- Get it in writing on the rate confirmation
- Understand free time and hourly rate
- Know the documentation requirements
No detention policy? That's a red flag. You're absorbing all the risk of shipper delays.
Documenting Detention
Get paid by keeping good records:
- Arrival time: Note when you checked in (get timestamp)
- Door time: When you were assigned a dock
- Completion time: When loading/unloading finished
- Departure time: When you left the facility
- Receipts/check-in slips: Physical proof if available
- Photos: Timestamp feature on phone photos
Collecting Payment
- Submit detention claim with your invoice
- Include documentation of times
- Reference the rate con's detention policy
- Follow up if not paid
- Escalate if necessary (but pick your battles)
Common Excuses (and Responses)
"We don't pay detention." → "The rate confirmation includes detention terms. I have documentation."
"You should have arrived later." → "I arrived at the scheduled appointment time. Waiting was beyond my control."
"The shipper won't pay us." → "That's between you and the shipper. I have a contract with you."
Prevention
Better than collecting detention is avoiding it:
- Check facility reviews for wait time history
- Call ahead to confirm readiness
- Schedule appointments at better times (early morning often moves faster)
- Build relationships with facilities you visit often
Summary
Detention pay compensates you for time lost to shipper/receiver delays. Negotiate it upfront, document your times carefully, and don't be shy about collecting what you're owed.
Your time has value. Make sure you're paid for it.