Detention Pay Calculator: What You Are Owed For Waiting Time
Enter arrival, departure, free time and your hourly rate to calculate billable detention hours and the amount owed.
A departure earlier than the arrival time is treated as the next day. There is no federal detention rate; your rate confirmation sets the free time, rate and rounding.
Rules, prices and device details on this page were checked October 2026 against the official sources listed at the bottom. Where a provider doesn't publish a number, we say so instead of guessing.
Every hour you sit at a shipper or receiver is an hour you're not driving and not getting paid by the mile. Detention pay is meant to cover that time, but only if you claim it and can prove it. This calculator takes your arrival time, departure time, the free time in your rate confirmation and your detention rate, then tells you how many hours you can bill and how much you're owed.
Calculator
- Arrival time. When you checked in at the facility. Use the time on your ELD or check in slip.
- Departure time. When you were released with your paperwork.
- Free hours. The free time allowed before detention starts. This is usually in your rate confirmation.
- Detention rate per hour. The hourly amount you agreed to.
How it works: billable hours equal the time between arrival and departure minus free hours, never less than zero. Amount owed equals billable hours times your rate. The result shows both numbers.
Example
You check in at 7:00 and get released at 12:30. That's 5.5 hours on site. With 2 free hours, you have 3.5 billable hours. At $50 an hour, you're owed $175. Some contracts bill in whole or half hour blocks, so check how yours rounds.
Typical Rates
There's no federal detention rate. It's whatever you and the broker or shipper agree to. Common terms include a set number of free hours followed by a flat hourly rate, sometimes with a daily cap. The details vary a lot from one customer to the next, so the rate confirmation is the document that matters. If detention isn't written into it, getting paid gets much harder.
A few things to watch for in your rate confirmation:
- How many free hours you get, and whether they start at your appointment time or your arrival time.
- Whether you need to notify the broker before detention starts, and how.
- Whether there's a cap per day or per stop.
- What proof they require, such as signed in and out times.
Arriving late can affect your claim. Many contracts only start the clock if you showed up on time for your appointment.
Why Detention Matters
Detention isn't just an annoyance. Federal research shows it costs drivers real money and makes the roads less safe. A 2018 report from the DOT Office of Inspector General estimated that:
- A 15 minute increase in average dwell time raises the expected crash rate by 6.2%.
- Detention cuts annual earnings for truck drivers by $1.1 billion to $1.3 billion.
- Detention cuts annual net income for carriers by $250.6 million to $302.9 million.
The link to safety is simple. Time spent waiting still counts toward your hours of service limits. When a load takes four hours longer than planned, you have four fewer hours to drive, and that pressure can lead to rushing. FMCSA has studied the issue too, and its detention research page tracks that work.
Using ELD Data as Proof
Your ELD is the best evidence you have. It records your location and duty status with timestamps, and those records are hard to argue with. Here's how to use them:
- Log on duty, not driving, when you arrive. Your ELD will show the time and location you went on duty at the facility.
- Keep the status accurate while you wait. Being on duty at a dock matters for your HOS clock and for your detention claim.
- Note the release time. Change status when you leave, and add a note with the facility name if your ELD allows it.
- Export your logs. Most ELDs can send a copy of your logs by email or let your back office download them. Attach them to your detention invoice.
- Use GPS history. If your fleet has GPS tracking, the location history shows exactly when the truck entered and left the property. Some systems can create geofences around customer sites and record arrival and departure on their own.
Pair the ELD record with signed in and out times on the bill of lading or a check in slip and you have a strong case. Send the claim quickly, too. Many brokers have short windows for submitting accessorial charges.
Tips for Getting Paid
- Get detention terms in writing before you accept the load.
- Arrive on time for your appointment.
- Tell the broker when free time is about to run out.
- Submit the invoice with proof right away.
- Track which customers pay detention reliably and price them accordingly.
Over time, your detention records also show which shippers waste your time. That's useful when you're deciding whether a lane is worth running.
Figures checked October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is detention pay calculated?
Take the time between arrival and departure, subtract the free time in your contract, and multiply the remaining hours by your agreed hourly rate.
Is there a standard detention rate?
No. There is no federal rate. Detention terms are set in your rate confirmation or contract.
Can ELD data prove detention?
Yes. ELD records show timestamped duty status and location, which supports your arrival and departure times. Pair them with signed facility times.
Does detention time count toward hours of service?
Time waiting on duty at a facility counts toward your on duty limits, which is why long waits cut into your available driving time.
Sources
All prices, terms and registration details were checked October 2026 on the pages below. Providers change pricing often, so confirm before you buy.