Carrier / Owner-Operator view: what the wait costs you, and the detention pay you should collect. The math is identical in both views — only the labels change.
Detention Pay Calculator: What Your Waiting Time Really Costs
This truck detention calculator turns idle hours at the dock into a real dollar figure — lost revenue, the fixed costs that keep accruing while you wait, and the gap between what detention should pay and what you actually collect. The truck looks “parked,” but every hour past your free time is an hour you cannot bill against another load.
Broker detention pay: what to expect
Broker detention pay typically begins after about 2 hours of free time and runs roughly $25–$75 per hour, but it is rarely automatic. You need documented in/out times on the BOL, a clear detention notation, and a timely invoice. Use the numbers above to set your floor before you negotiate — if a broker offers detention below your fixed cost per hour, you are still losing money on the wait.
Shipper detention vs carrier detention
The difference between shipper detention vs carrier detention decides who absorbs the loss. Shipper (or receiver) detention is the facility holding you past the agreed free time — that cost should flow back through the broker to the shipper. Carrier detention is the portion the carrier eats when documentation is missing or the claim is denied. The goal is to push as much of the cost back to the party that caused the delay, and to document everything so the claim holds up.
Disclaimer: Results are estimates only and do not constitute legal, financial, or contractual advice. Actual detention pay rates and policies vary by carrier, broker, and shipper agreement. Verify rates and document in/out times before invoicing or negotiating.
Frequently Asked Questions
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