Guide to detention time pay for owner-operators — industry standard rates ($25-75/hr), when detention starts, how to bill for wait time, handling broker pushback, and documenting detention.
return ( What Is Detention Time? Detention time is the time a truck driver spends waiting at a shipper or receiver beyond the agreed-upon free time (usually 2 hours) for loading or unloading.
When a facility takes too long to load or unload your trailer, you are being detained — and that costs you money.
Every hour you sit at a dock is an hour you are not driving, not earning miles, and not moving toward your next load.
Detention is one of the most persistent frustrations in trucking and one of the biggest revenue leaks for owner-operators.
Understanding how detention pay works, what you should charge, how to document it, and how to handle brokers who try to avoid paying it is essential for protecting your bottom line.
Industry Standard Detention Rates Detention rates vary by carrier, broker, and market conditions, but industry standards fall within a consistent range: Free time: Typically 2 hours from the scheduled appointment time or check-in time.
Some rate confirmations specify 1 hour or 3 hours — always read the rate confirmation.
Detention rate: $25-$75 per hour after free time expires.
The most common rate is $50/hour.
Daily cap: Some brokers and shippers cap detention at $250-$500 per day regardless of actual wait time.
Overnight detention: If you are held overnight, rates and policies vary widely.
Some pay a flat overnight fee; others pay hourly through the night.
According to industry surveys, the average detention event costs an owner-operator approximately $150-$300 in detention pay (when they actually collect it).
But the real cost is higher because detention disrupts your schedule, causes you to miss subsequent loads, and burns through your available HOS hours while you sit.
The FMCSA has studied detention time extensively and found that the average truck driver waits over 3 hours at loading and unloading facilities.
That adds up to over $1 billion in lost productivity industry-wide per year.
As an owner-operator, you have more leverage than a company driver to negotiate detention pay — use it.
When Detention Clock Starts The detention clock should start when you check in at the facility and are ready to be loaded or unloaded.
However, there is often disagreement about what "check in" means: Appointment loads: The clock starts at the scheduled appointment time if you arrive on time or early.
If you arrive late, the clock starts when you check in.
First come, first served (FCFS) loads: The clock starts when you check in at the gate or guard shack.
The clock stops: When loading or unloading is complete and you have your signed BOL (Bill of Lading) and are released to leave.
What Counts as "Checked In" Best practice: when you arrive at the facility, record the exact time you check in.
This means: Arrive at the facility and pull into the designated truck staging area Check in at the guard shack, office window, or digital check-in kiosk Get a check-in number or receipt if available Record the time — a timestamped photo of the check-in re.
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