Record the timeline
Keep important operational times and load events in the load workflow.
A detention request is harder to defend when times and evidence are scattered across texts, calls, photos, and driver notes.
Keep evidence nearby
Store relevant trucking documents and receipts with the load.
Draft broker updates
Use operational facts to prepare concise communication when a delay is developing.
Use the free calculator
Estimate detention time with LoadKit’s public detention calculator before creating an account.
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers for carriers comparing dispatch workflows.
What is truck detention?
Truck detention is time a driver or truck spends waiting at a shipper or receiver beyond the agreed or allowed free-time period.
How do I calculate detention time?
Record the arrival and departure times, subtract the applicable free-time period, and then apply the detention terms in the rate confirmation or broker agreement.
Does every broker pay the same detention rate?
No. Detention rules, free time, hourly rates, caps, and documentation requirements vary by broker and load.
Does LoadKit have a free detention calculator?
Yes. LoadKit provides a public truck detention calculator with no account required.
Can LoadKit guarantee a detention payment?
No. Payment depends on the applicable broker terms, evidence, and approval. LoadKit helps organize the operational facts.