Detention charges are one of the most common unexpected costs in trucking, and one of the most preventable. Here is what the fee represents, how it is calculated, and what shippers can do to reduce it.
In This Guide
What It Means
Detention is a charge applied when a carrier's driver is kept waiting at a shipper or receiver facility beyond the free time included in the carrier's standard terms. Free time is typically two hours - one hour at pickup and one hour at delivery, though this varies by carrier. When a driver spends more than the allotted free time loading or unloading, the carrier charges an hourly rate for the additional time. This is detention.
Detention exists because a truck sitting idle at a dock is not generating revenue, and the driver's hours of service clock is running regardless of whether the truck is moving. Carriers price this time at rates that range from approximately $50 to $100 per hour depending on the lane, carrier, and current market. On a busy facility that runs chronic loading delays, detention charges can add substantially to freight spend over the course of a year.
Why It Matters
- Carriers track detention history by shipper and receiver - facilities with consistent detention issues attract higher base rates and reduced carrier interest at tender
- A two-hour loading delay on a 10-hour transit effectively loses the driver more than 20% of their available daily driving hours - which can cause missed delivery appointments
- Cumulative detention charges across a freight program can represent thousands of dollars annually that are preventable with operational changes
- When drivers lose hours to detention at pickup, they may not have enough driving time left to complete a long delivery within the day, pushing delivery to the following day
- Receivers who cause detention have limited visibility into the operational cost they are creating for their suppliers and carriers
How It Works
The Detention Clock
The detention clock starts when the driver checks in at the facility and stops when the truck is loaded or unloaded and the driver is cleared to leave. Most carriers start the free time clock from check-in, not from a scheduled appointment time - arriving early does not extend your free time. The driver documents start and end times, which form the basis of any detention charge dispute.
Typical Rates
Standard detention rates in Canadian trucking range from $55 to $95 per hour after free time expires. The rate is specified in the carrier's tariff or the load confirmation. For LTL shipments, detention terms are typically set in the carrier's published tariff. For FTL movements, they are part of the rate negotiation or broker confirmation.
Using the OTR Logistics Solutions Detention Calculator
The OTR Hub Detention Calculator lets you enter free time, actual time at facility, and the hourly rate to calculate the detention charge before the invoice arrives. Use it to verify charges, model the cost of loading delays, and build the business case for dock efficiency improvements.
Common Challenges
- Not tracking actual dock time against scheduled appointment times, so detention patterns go unnoticed until invoice review
- Scheduling too many trucks in a time window that the dock cannot service without delays
- Freight not staged and ready to load before the driver arrives - preparation should happen before the truck pulls in
- Understaffed receiving teams that cannot process deliveries quickly enough during peak periods
- Not disputing detention charges when facility records show the driver arrived early or the delay was not caused by the facility
Best Practices
- Stage freight for pickup before the scheduled truck arrival - the driver should not be waiting for product to be pulled from racking
- Schedule truck appointments with realistic dock time allocations that reflect actual loading speed
- Track dock time and driver check-in/out times - facilities that measure this data can identify patterns and make targeted improvements
- Dispute inaccurate detention charges promptly and in writing with supporting documentation (check-in logs, security records)
- Share detention cost data with operations and procurement - it creates accountability for dock efficiency that is otherwise invisible
When to Use This Service
- Before approving a freight invoice with a detention line item - verify the calculation is correct
- When modeling the operational cost of dock delays for an internal business case
- When reviewing carrier feedback about a facility and evaluating what dock efficiency improvements would save
Calculate a detention charge before your invoice arrives using the OTR Hub tool. OTR Logistics Solutions is available 24/7 for freight brokerage across Canada and into the US.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I dispute a detention charge?
Yes. To dispute successfully, you need documentation showing the driver's actual arrival and departure time from your facility records. If the driver arrived early and your free time started from arrival rather than appointment time, or if the delay was caused by the carrier rather than your facility, document this and present it in writing promptly after receiving the invoice.
Does detention apply to both pickup and delivery?
Yes. Most carrier tariffs include separate free time allocations for pickup and delivery - typically one hour at each location. A driver detained at pickup and again at delivery can generate two separate detention charges on the same load.
What is layover pay and how does it differ from detention?
Detention applies when a driver is waiting at a facility during normal operations. Layover pay applies when a driver is forced to stop overnight at an intermediate point because delivery is not possible until the following day - typically because detention at pickup caused the driver to run out of hours before completing the trip. Layover rates are typically $150-$250 per night and are a downstream consequence of upstream detention.
Related freight pages
Explore services and local freight-broker pages that fit this topic.