Detention time is one of the most common occurrences in trucking, and something drivers need to deal with.
Detention time can be defined as the time spent outside of the specified time for loading or unloading the trailer on shipper or receiver locations.
When the freight is picked up or delivered, there is reasonable time to load/unload the trailer, and this is considered as free time. The “Free Time” depends on the company, and usually it’s two hours.
Anything above two hours is considered as a detention time.
Detention time is causing a lot of problems because it delays drivers. According to a study by the Department of Transportation in 2018, drivers lose an estimated $1.1 billion to $1.3 billion every year due solely to detention.
Most companies are paying its driver for detention time. The pay ranges from $30 to $100 per hour.