How Do I Get Paid Detention on Loads?

Detention is a common issue in the trucking industry, but it can be tricky to navigate. Let’s break it down.

What is Detention?

Detention occurs when a carrier is delayed at a facility beyond a reasonable amount of time while loading or unloading and is compensated for this delay. Since most trucking companies are paid either a flat rate or by the mile, a truck that’s not moving isn’t generating revenue. This problem compounds when a driver misses their next load due to the delay, disrupting not just the current job but also the subsequent ones. Larger trucking companies might be able to mitigate this by shifting trucks and drivers around, but smaller independents often cannot.

How is Detention Calculated?

The calculation of detention and ensuring you’re paid for it are significant concerns. Many shippers, brokers, and carriers already have a standard rate for detention. For example, during my time in shipping, the going rate was $50 per hour. Typically, there’s a grace period (often one hour) before detention kicks in, followed by the hourly rate.

However, the responsibility for detention isn’t always clear-cut. It can fall on various parties, depending on the circumstances. If a facility’s equipment breaks down, the facility should compensate for the delay. If the delay is due to overscheduling by the shipper or broker, they should be responsible. Sometimes, a trucker’s own breakdown can lead to delays that aren’t the facility’s fault.

One example from my experience involved three drivers who liked to run together. They’d load, wait, and unload together. While this worked for them, it created bottlenecks, especially on shorter routes, leading to unnecessary delays.

Ensuring Fair Compensation

To ensure you’re fairly compensated for detention, it’s crucial to discuss it upfront. I know this can be a sensitive topic, especially since you want to maintain a good relationship with your clients. But having the conversation early on will save headaches later.

Tracking and validating detention time is essential. Many electronic logging devices (ELDs) and other software can timestamp how long a truck waits at a facility. If you don’t have access to these tools, keep meticulous records by hand.

Also, carefully analyze the situation to determine who’s responsible for the detention. While I firmly believe truckers should be compensated, we all know that factors beyond the shipper’s or facility’s control can contribute to delays.

As a shipper, when faced with detention issues, I sometimes resolved them by compensating a little more on future loads rather than taking the full hit on one. It wasn’t a perfect solution, but it helped maintain good relationships and ensured future business.

Remember, as I often say in my podcasts, never burn bridges in this industry—you never know when you’ll need that person again, and trust me, you will.

Hope this helps, God Bless.

Jared