Finance
Detention
Detention is the fee a carrier charges a shipper or receiver when a truck is held past the free loading or unloading window.
Detention covers the carrier's cost when a driver is held at a shipper or receiver beyond the free time stated on the rate confirmation — typically 2 hours. Rates run $50-$100/hour for dry van, higher for refrigerated and specialty.
Documentation is everything: time in / time out signed on the BOL or captured via a YMS/dock-scheduling system. ELD geofence times alone are not always enforceable without driver-signed corroboration.
Carriers that automate detention billing via TMS + ELD recover 5-15% of revenue that gets written off in shops that bill manually.
Run compliance & dispatch in one place
Hayes combines a DOT-aware ATS, dispatch, EDI, and document compliance — built for carriers who don't want five logins.
Related terms
Operations
BOL (Bill of Lading)
A BOL is the legal contract and receipt issued by a carrier to a shipper, describing the freight being transported.
Operations
POD (Proof of Delivery)
POD is the signed document proving freight was delivered. It's the trigger for invoicing and the basis of OS&D claims.
Technology
TMS (Transportation Management System)
A TMS is the software system carriers and shippers use to plan, dispatch, track, settle, and invoice freight moves.