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Trucking Layover Pay Calculator

See your layover pay, what's left after parking and meals, and whether it covers what those days would have earned on the road. Free, no signup.

Layover

Days you wait because of the shipper or receiver.

From the rate con. Enter 0 if there is none.

Parking, hotel, meals while you wait.

A normal day on the road (optional)

E.g. your weekly gross ÷ days worked.

Fuel, maintenance and other per-mile costs you don't spend while parked.

Your results

Fill in the fields to see your answer.

  • Enter how many layover days.
  • Enter the layover pay per day (enter 0 if none).
Pay after your costs
—
Working days would net
—
Layover vs working
—
Pay needed to break even with working
—

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

How to calculate layover pay

  • Layover pay = layover days × pay per day
  • Pay after costs = layover pay − (days × your costs per day)
  • Working days would net = days × (normal day's gross − running costs)
  • Layover vs working = pay after costs − what working days would net

Running costs are the costs you only have when the truck moves (fuel, maintenance per mile). Fixed costs like your truck payment don't stop during a layover, so they aren't subtracted.

Worked example

A 1-day layover paying $150, with $40 in parking and meals. A normal day grosses $800 with $300 in fuel and other running costs:

Worked example
Layover pay1 × $150 = $150.00
After your costs$150 − $40 = $110.00
A working day would net$800 − $300 = $500.00
Layover vs working$110 − $500 = −$390.00
Pay that breaks even with working$500 + $40 = $540.00 per day

Before you accept a layover

  • Get the layover amount and the new appointment time in writing, on an updated rate confirmation.
  • Ask whether you can be released to take another load instead, if a good one is nearby.
  • Keep receipts for parking and hotel in case you can bill them.

FAQ

What is layover pay in trucking?

Layover pay is a flat amount per day a broker or carrier pays when a load can't be picked up or delivered on the scheduled day and you have to wait, usually overnight or longer. It is set on the rate confirmation or in your driver pay sheet.

How do you calculate layover pay?

Multiply the layover days by the layover pay per day on your rate con. To see what the layover really cost you, subtract what you spent while waiting (parking, hotel, meals) and compare it with what those days would have netted if you'd been driving.

How much is layover pay?

There's no standard amount. It depends on the broker, the shipper and what you negotiate before you accept the load. Use the calculator with a normal day's gross to see the pay per day you'd need so the layover doesn't cost you money, and ask for that.

What's the difference between layover, detention and TONU?

Detention pays hourly for waiting at the dock past the free time. Layover pays per day when the load is delayed to another day. TONU (truck ordered, not used) is a flat fee when a load is cancelled after you were dispatched to it.

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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