Detention Pay and Accessorial Charges in Trucking
Detention pay is what a carrier is owed when a facility holds the truck past the free time in the rate confirmation. Here's how detention, layover, TONU and lumper charges work, and the records you need to collect them.
Detention pay is what a carrier is owed when a shipper or receiver holds the truck past the free time allowed for loading or unloading. Accessorial charges are any charges on top of the linehaul rate for time or work the basic move did not include. Detention is the most common accessorial.
Most lost detention is lost for one reason: the carrier cannot prove what time the truck arrived and what time it left.
How detention works
- The rate confirmation gives a free time for loading and for unloading. Two hours at each end is the usual figure.
- Under the usual terms, the clock starts at your appointment time. If you arrive early, it does not start until the appointment. If you arrive late, many brokers pay no detention on that stop.
- Once free time runs out, detention is billed at the hourly rate in the rate confirmation, usually in set increments.
- Most brokers require you to tell them before free time expires that the truck is still waiting.
- You bill detention with the in and out times documented.
There is no federal rule that sets a detention rate or makes detention payable. It is a term of your contract. If the rate confirmation does not state it, you have nothing to enforce.
The common accessorials
| Charge | What it covers | What you need to collect |
|---|---|---|
| Detention | Waiting past free time at pickup or delivery | In and out times signed by the facility |
| Layover | Being held overnight or into the next day | Appointment record and the reason for the delay |
| TONU (truck ordered, not used) | The load cancels after you were dispatched | The rate confirmation and proof you were dispatched or on site |
| Lumper fee | Paying a third party to load or unload | The lumper receipt |
| Driver assist | The driver helps load or unload | Approval in advance, in writing |
| Extra stop | Additional pickups or deliveries | Listed on the rate confirmation |
| Tarping | Covering a flatbed load | Listed on the rate confirmation |
| Reconsignment | The delivery address changes after dispatch | Written instruction from the broker |
| Redelivery | The receiver could not or would not take the load | Record of the first attempt |
What to have in writing before you roll
Check the rate confirmation for each of these:
- Free time, in hours, at pickup and at delivery
- The detention rate per hour, and any daily cap
- The layover rate
- The TONU amount
- Who pays lumper fees and how they are reimbursed
- What proof is required, and the deadline for submitting it
"Detention as agreed" is not a rate. Ask for the number. How to read a rate confirmation goes through every line.
How to document detention
- Arrive on time. A late truck usually loses its detention claim. If you are going to be late, tell the broker before the appointment.
- Get your arrival time recorded. Have the facility write the time in on the bill of lading or a gate pass and sign it.
- Tell the broker before free time ends. Send a message with the time, so there is a record.
- Get your departure time recorded the same way.
- Keep your tracking and ELD records. They back up the written times.
- Send everything with the invoice. The signed bill of lading with times, the receipts, and the rate confirmation.
Facilities sometimes refuse to write times on the paperwork. If that happens, message the broker from the dock with your arrival time, and again when you leave. A message sent at the time is much stronger than a claim made a week later.
Detention and your hours of service
Time spent waiting at a dock counts against the 14-hour driving window. A four-hour delay can mean you run out of hours before you reach the next pickup. Hourly detention rarely covers the revenue lost on the load you could not take.
Keep track of which facilities hold trucks. When a shipper or receiver is slow every time, raise your rate for loads that go there.
Getting paid
- Bill accessorials with the linehaul, on the same invoice. Charges sent weeks later are questioned.
- Attach the proof. An accessorial with no document attached is usually denied.
- Get approval in advance for anything not on the rate confirmation. Ask for a revised rate confirmation or a written approval before doing the work.
- Pay lumpers the way the broker specifies. Many brokers issue a payment code for the lumper. If you pay yourself, keep the receipt.
How we handle it
Every Lancashire Freight load has a signed rate confirmation before you roll. Pay is same-day ACH on proofs of delivery submitted by 2pm, and net-21 from invoice otherwise. Send accessorial documentation with your proof of delivery so the whole load can be settled together.
FAQ
What is detention pay in trucking?
Detention pay is what a carrier is owed when a shipper or receiver holds the truck longer than the free time allowed in the rate confirmation. It is billed at an hourly rate once free time has run out.
How much free time do carriers usually get?
Two hours at pickup and two hours at delivery is the usual allowance. The rate confirmation states the free time for each load.
When does detention start?
Detention starts when the free time runs out. Free time is normally counted from the appointment time, provided the truck arrived on time.
Is detention pay required by law?
No. No federal rule sets a detention rate or requires detention to be paid. It is owed only when the rate confirmation or the broker-carrier agreement provides for it.
What is an accessorial charge?
An accessorial charge is any charge added to the linehaul rate for time or services beyond a standard pickup and delivery. Detention, layover, lumper fees and extra stops are common examples.
What does TONU mean?
TONU stands for truck ordered, not used. It is a fee paid to a carrier when a load is cancelled after the truck has been dispatched.
What is the difference between detention and layover?
Detention is paid by the hour for waiting past free time on the same day. Layover is usually a flat daily amount paid when the truck is held overnight or into the next day.
Join our carrier network for loads with a signed rate confirmation and same-day pay.