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Truck Detention Pay Calculator

Enter your check-in and check-out times, the free time and the detention rate from your rate con. See billable time, what you're owed and a line to copy into your invoice.

Time at the dock
Enter the time as

Your appointment or arrival time, whichever the rate con says counts.

Past midnight is fine: it counts as the next day.

Rate confirmation terms

Hours before detention starts. Check the rate con.

Billed in blocks of

Some rate cons cap detention per stop.

Your time (optional)

E.g. what you'd gross per hour driving. Compares the wait with the pay.

Your results

Fill in the fields to see your answer.

  • Enter your check-in and check-out times (or the hours on site).
  • Enter the detention rate per hour.
Time on site
—
Past free time
—
Billable time
—
Your time was worth
—

Estimates only. Based on the numbers you enter. Not tax, legal or financial advice.

How to calculate detention pay

  • Time on site = check-out time − check-in time
  • Time past free time = time on site − free time (never below 0)
  • Billable time = complete billing blocks only (e.g. 15 min or 1 hour)
  • Detention pay = billable hours × detention rate per hour
  • If the rate con has a maximum, pay = the smaller of the two

This calculator counts only complete billing blocks. If your rate confirmation rounds differently, choose “Exact” and adjust.

Worked example

Checked in at 8:00, checked out at 12:50, with 2 hours of free time and $50 an hour billed in 15-minute blocks:

Worked example
Time on site8:00 to 12:50 = 4 h 50 min
Past free time4 h 50 min − 2 h = 2 h 50 min
Billable (15-min blocks)2 h 45 min = 2.75 h
Detention pay2.75 × $50 = $137.50

How to make sure you get detention paid

  • Read the detention clause on the rate confirmation before you accept: free time, hourly rate, maximum and when the clock starts.
  • Arrive on time and write down your arrival, check-in and check-out times.
  • Tell the broker when you reach the end of the free time, in writing, while you are still at the dock.
  • Get in and out times on the signed bill of lading, and keep your ELD records.
  • Bill detention with the load invoice, not weeks later.

FAQ

How do you calculate detention pay?

Take the total time at the shipper or receiver, subtract the free time in your rate confirmation, round down to the billing blocks the rate con uses (often 15 minutes or a full hour), and multiply by the hourly detention rate. For example, 4 h 50 min on site with 2 hours free is 2 h 50 min over; billed in 15-minute blocks at $50 an hour that is 2.75 × $50 = $137.50.

When does detention time start?

It depends on the rate confirmation. Many start the clock at your appointment time if you arrived on time, not at the moment you pulled in early. Some start at check-in. Read the detention clause before you accept the load and write down your arrival, check-in and check-out times.

How much free time is normal before detention?

Two hours is a common free time on rate confirmations, but it is not a rule: some loads have more, some less, and some pay no detention at all. The number that counts is the one on your rate con.

What proof do I need to get paid detention?

Usually the signed bill of lading with in and out times, your ELD or GPS records, and a message to the broker as soon as you pass the free time. Many brokers require you to tell them while you are still waiting, so send that message on time.

Is detention the same as layover?

No. Detention pays for hours you wait to be loaded or unloaded. Layover pays when a load can't be picked up or delivered on the scheduled day and you have to wait overnight or longer. Use the layover pay calculator for that.

Is my information saved or shared?

Your last inputs are saved only in your own browser. Nothing you type is sent to Trucking Help Center's servers, and there's no signup.

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