Straight answer
Why doesn't detention get paid?
Because claiming it requires documented arrival and departure times submitted inside the broker's window — often 24 or 48 hours after delivery — and by the time most carriers think about it, the window has closed. It isn't usually a broker refusing to pay. It's a claim that was never properly made.
The second reason is that detention terms have to be on the rate confirmation before you accept the load. If the con is silent on detention, there is nothing to claim against.
What to document, every time
- Arrival time. Photograph the gate or the guard shack with a timestamp, or use your ELD arrival record. "I got there around ten" is not documentation.
- Check-in time. When you actually presented at the shipping office, which is often different from when you arrived on the property.
- Departure time. Same standard as arrival.
- The signed BOL. Many facilities record in and out times on it. That's the single strongest piece of evidence you'll get.
- Anything the facility said. If they told you the dock was down, note it, with the time and who said it.
Making the claim
Same day, not "when I get home"
Submit the detention claim with the invoice packet on the day you deliver. It costs nothing to do it immediately and it's the only reliable way to stay inside the window. A claim submitted four days later is usually declined on procedure alone, regardless of how obviously correct it is.
- Reference the rate confirmation number and the detention clause on it
- State arrival, check-in and departure times with the free time deducted
- Attach the BOL and any photographic evidence
- Give the exact amount claimed against the agreed hourly rate — don't ask them to calculate it
When they refuse
Sometimes the answer is genuinely no — the terms weren't on the con, the window passed, or the facility disputes your times. Push once with the evidence, then decide whether it's worth more of your day. What matters far more is what you do on the next load: get the terms in writing before accepting, document at the gate, and file the same day.
If a particular broker consistently declines legitimate claims, that's information. Their credit score won't tell you that. Your own record will.
Answers
Frequently asked questions
How long before detention starts?
It depends entirely on what's written on your rate confirmation. Two hours of free time is a common arrangement in the US market, but it is negotiated per load and per broker, not set by regulation. If there is no detention clause on the confirmation, there is no free time and no detention to claim.
What proof do I need to claim detention?
Documented arrival, check-in and departure times, ideally corroborated by the signed BOL where the facility records in and out times, plus any photographic evidence. Your ELD arrival record helps. Undocumented times are the main reason legitimate claims get declined.
Can I claim detention after the fact?
Rarely with success. Most brokers set a claim window, commonly 24 to 48 hours after delivery, and claims outside it get declined on procedure regardless of merit. The realistic answer is to file at the time, every time — which is exactly why we submit detention claims with the invoice packet on the day of delivery.
Rather have someone else handle this?
This is what we do every day for carriers. Dispatch from 6% of gross or $300 a week, no contracts, first week free.