Over 90% Charge Detention. Fewer Than 50% Get Paid

The Detention Fee Illusion: Everyone Charges, Few Get Paid

In 2025, detention fees are more universal than ever—but payment is still the exception, not the rule.

According to industry data, 94.5% of carriers include detention or accessorial fees in their pricing, yet fewer than 50% of those claims are actually paid. This gap highlights a dysfunction in the freight system: what should be a routine cost-recovery mechanism remains a source of lost revenue, broken trust, and back-office friction.

The system persists because each party has different incentives:

Carriers want fair compensation for time lost.
Brokers often act as middlemen who can only pay if the shipper agrees.
Shippers may reject claims unless documentation is flawless—and sometimes even when it is.

This isn’t just an administrative nuisance. The American Trucking Research Institute (ATRI) estimates that over $3.6 billion in detention-related losses occur annually in trucking, with total productivity losses climbing to $11.5 billion when delays, idle time, and opportunity cost are factored in.

“As a broker, I pay detention every time it’s valid—but I can only recover from my customer 70 to 75% of the time. I’ll eat the cost if needed to maintain relationships.”
— Broker, specialized freight

What the Data Actually Shows in 2025

Let’s break down how the detention fee ecosystem currently performs:

📊 Detention Fee Ecosystem Snapshot

Metric	2025 Value/Trend
Carriers charging detention	94.5% of fleets
Claims actually paid	Fewer than 50%
Brokers who only pay if reimbursed by shipper	~66%
Typical broker recovery success rate	60–75% (varies by contract clarity and shipper)
Average delay in payment	30–90 days
Carrier loss from unpaid detention (annual)	$3.6 billion in direct losses
Total productivity loss to industry	$11.5 billion annually (including missed driving time)

These figures paint a picture of a system that routinely generates friction, eats into margins, and puts relationship management above operational fairness.

“If a broker starts resisting paying detention, I just start quoting rates with detention built in. No fighting—just adjusted pricing.”
— Carrier with repeat shipper routes

What Detention Rates Actually Look Like in 2025

Detention rates vary significantly based on trailer type, cargo sensitivity, and contract specifics. Here’s a breakdown of the most common ranges:

🚛 Truckload Freight Detention Rates (Per Hour After Free Time)

Mode	Typical Rate (2025)	Notes
Dry Van	$50–$75	Standard for general freight
Reefer	$60–$90	Higher due to perishables and temp control
Flatbed	$60–$90	Often higher for securement-heavy loads

📦 Common Commodity-Based Detention Tiers

Produce, meat, perishables: $75–$90/hour
Steel, lumber, construction materials: $60–$90/hour
Furniture, general retail: $50–$75/hour

Rates are often pre-agreed but highly negotiable. For high-value, time-sensitive cargo, rates may exceed listed ranges. However, actual enforcement depends entirely on documentation, follow-through, and relationships between parties.

“We got 12 hours detention once and were paid $200. That’s less than $17 an hour. It’s like being punished for showing up.”
— Owner-operator, dry van

Payment Delays, Documentation Disputes, and the 90-Day Gap

Even when detention is valid and pre-agreed, payment is far from guaranteed—or timely.

📅 Typical Processing & Payment Timeline

Step	Expected Duration	Notes
Free time expires (usually after 2 hours)	—	Trigger point for claim
Carrier submits claim to broker	Same day–3 days	Requires BOL + time-stamped check-in/out docs
Broker submits claim to shipper	2–7 days later	Depends on internal SOP
Shipper approves or disputes	Up to 30–60 days	Disputes are common without pre-approval or paperwork
Payment issued to carrier	30–90 days total	Longer if shipper refuses or disputes claim

When detention payment terms aren’t clearly defined in the contract, brokers often absorb the cost to maintain relationships with both shippers and carriers. This creates further opacity in accountability and margin erosion.

“If my customer doesn’t want to pay detention, I’ll usually cover it to keep the carrier happy. But I’d rather just quote detention into the lane rate than keep chasing pennies afterward.”
— Broker, food logistics

Regulatory Context – What’s Changing and What Isn’t

While new detention billing rules are in effect for ocean carriers, the over-the-road freight sector continues to rely on contract enforcement and private negotiation. However, maritime regulation is setting a tone of transparency that could influence domestic trends.

🌊 Ocean Shipping: FMC Final Rule (Effective May 28, 2024)

Standardized invoices: Must include all necessary details to validate charges.
Timely issuance: Invoices must be sent within 30 calendar days of charge accrual.
Defined dispute timeline: 30 days minimum for billed parties to contest or seek refunds.
Clear billing party: Invoices must be directed to the entity that contracted the shipment.

Rule	Effective Date	Applies To
FMC Final Rule on Demurrage & Detention Billing	May 28, 2024	Ocean Carriers & Terminals

No comparable U.S. federal rule exists for trucking detention fees. However, industry observers expect similar documentation and transparency norms to influence shipper-carrier-broker contracts moving forward.

“We don’t have to comply with FMC rules, but I’ve started using similar invoice formats and response timelines—it reduces disputes.”
— Broker, intermodal

How Brokers, Carriers, and Shippers Can Actually Improve This

Detention fee chaos isn’t inevitable. Companies that build pre-agreed terms, use clear documentation, and automate early signals often avoid the most painful parts of the process.

📋 Smart Practices to Reduce Disputes and Delays

Pre-agree on detention terms in every contract. Include free time limits, hourly rates, and dispute processes.
Use standardized check-in/out protocols. Timestamped ELD, signed BOLs, or carrier-provided TMS logs.
Minimize disputes with real-time logs. Time-stamped data gives brokers and shippers less room to push back.
Train dispatch and ops staff. Ensure frontline teams know when to record data and when to trigger detention workflows.

📉 A Broker’s Detention Strategy That Works

“If a broker starts to push back on detention, I just quote it into the base rate. Then we don’t need to fight for it later. It’s cleaner and everyone knows what to expect.”
— Carrier-turned-broker

With some shippers now factoring “detention behavior” into their carrier and broker reviews, better transparency isn’t just good policy—it’s becoming a competitive edge.

Key Takeaways for Logistics Professionals

Less than 50% of detention/accessorial claims are paid — despite 94.5% of carriers charging them.
Average processing time ranges from 7 to 90 days, with delays driven by unclear terms and missing paperwork.
Brokers absorb the cost frequently — especially when shippers refuse to pay or contracts lack clarity.
Rates vary: $50–$90/hour for trucking; up to $625/day for container detention.
Best practices include: clear contracts, timestamped documentation, automation, and transparent communication.

The system isn’t broken because of bad actors alone. It’s broken because too many stakeholders treat detention like a soft issue. In reality, it bleeds money and time — and those who tame it will win more trust, loyalty, and profit.

Get Visibility That Helps You Avoid Detention Disputes

TRADLINX equips forwarders and logistics professionals with real-time tracking, documentation tools, and embedded visibility widgets — so detention claims don’t turn into weeks of email ping-pong. Use BL-based pricing to pay only for what you need, and scale up when you’re ready.

✅ Real-time status updates
✅ No-code customer widgets
✅ Branded document syncing

Don’t just react to detention. Get proactive with TRADLINX.

TL;DR

Detention and accessorial fees remain a black hole in U.S. freight operations. Fewer than half of claims are paid, and most brokers only pay carriers if they themselves recover from the shipper. Rates vary by equipment and cargo type — from $50/hour for dry van to $625/day for container detention. Legal clarity is growing in ocean freight (FMC rules), but trucking still lags. Forwarders and brokers must tighten documentation, clarify terms, and invest in tools that prevent disputes before they start.

Sources

What Readers Are Asking

How can I reduce detention costs without hurting carrier relationships?

Clarify detention terms up front in your rate confirmations, and maintain proactive communication. Document in/out times with digital tools and honor fair claims quickly — carriers will notice.

Are there tools that help automate detention tracking?

Yes. Many TMS and tracking tools allow drivers to log wait times automatically. Solutions like TRADLINX offer container visibility and timestamped documentation to reduce disputes.

Is there a legal way to challenge unfair detention billing?

In ocean shipping, yes — FMC regulations now enforce standardized invoices and timelines. In trucking, resolution depends on the contract. Consult your legal team before disputing large amounts.

What’s the industry average for detention rate by mode?

In 2025: Dry Van ($50–$75/hr), Reefer/Flatbed ($60–$90/hr), Containers ($185–$625/day depending on type and duration).

Over 90% Charge Detention. Fewer Than 50% Get Paid

The Detention Fee Illusion: Everyone Charges, Few Get Paid