Detention Pay Calculator
Stuck at the dock? Enter the hours, your free time and your rate — see what to invoice, and what the wait really cost you in revenue.
How this calculator works
Billable hours = total hours at the facility − free time (never below zero). Detention pay = billable hours × your hourly rate.
Revenue lost = total hours × (your $/mile × average mph) — what the truck would have grossed rolling instead of sitting. If your detention rate covers well under 100% of that, the rate is subsidizing slow docks.
Detention only gets paid when it's on the rate con and documented. Arrival/departure timestamps from your ELD are your best evidence — screenshot them before you leave the gate.
Frequently asked questions
What is detention pay in trucking?
Compensation for time your truck sits at a shipper or receiver beyond the agreed free time (industry standard: 2 hours). After free time expires, detention is billed by the hour until you are loaded or unloaded.
What is a fair detention rate in 2026?
Most owner-operators bill $50–$100 per hour. Your floor should be what the truck earns rolling: if you average $2.20/mile at 50 mph, an hour of sitting costs you about $110 of revenue — bill accordingly.
How do I actually get detention paid?
Get it in writing on the rate confirmation before you book, document arrival and departure times (ELD screenshots, gate tickets, BOL timestamps), and notify the broker in writing before free time runs out. No paper trail, no detention check.
Does detention time affect my hours of service?
Yes — time stuck at the dock burns your 14-hour window even if you log it off-duty or sleeper. Long detention can kill the rest of your driving day, which is exactly why it should never be free.