Most rate confirmations grant a free window — commonly one to two hours — for loading or unloading. Time past that window accrues detention at a stated hourly rate, often in the range of $50 to $100 per hour, sometimes capped per day.
Detention is one of the most disputed accessorials in freight because it depends on documented arrival and departure times. Carriers that capture check-in and check-out timestamps — through a gate system, a driver app, or a signed bill of lading with times — collect far more of what they are owed than carriers relying on the driver’s memory.
The free window and hourly rate are negotiable and should be read on every load. A broker’s standard terms may allow more free time or a lower rate than the carrier would accept if asked.
Example
A rate confirmation allows 2 hours free at delivery and $75 per hour detention after that, billed in 15-minute increments. The driver is on site for 3 hours 20 minutes. Detention owed is 1 hour 20 minutes × $75 = $100, provided the carrier submits arrival and departure times that match the receiver’s records.
Why it matters
Uncollected detention is money the carrier already spent — the driver’s time and the truck’s availability were consumed whether or not anyone paid for it. Billing it reliably requires timestamped proof, not estimates.
How teams use this term
In a carrier operation, Detention belongs in the conversation about dispatch, planning, execution, and driver coordination. The useful question is not only what the term means, but which record or decision it changes. A dispatcher may see it while planning a load, a driver may create evidence for it in the field, and accounting may need the same context before a customer invoice or carrier settlement can be finalized. Keeping the term attached to the related workflow prevents a definition from becoming disconnected vocabulary.
When reviewing Detention, ask who owns the next action, what evidence supports the record, and what date or threshold makes the situation change. The answer can vary by equipment, lane, authority, customer routing guide, or contract. A small carrier should document the assumption it used rather than treating a general explanation as a universal rule. The related terms on this page are intended to help a team move from the definition to the operational decision.
A practical review starts with the example above, then compares it with the carrier's own settlement, dispatch, document, or compliance records. If the term affects a regulated filing, payment obligation, or customer requirement, verify the current primary source before acting. Trailflow can provide workflow context, but the carrier remains responsible for the policies, records, and professional advice that apply to its operation.