Detention is money owed to the carrier when a truck sits waiting at a pickup or delivery beyond the free window it was given — usually because loading or unloading runs late. It compensates the carrier for the driver’s time and the tied-up equipment.
Detention is normally billed by the hour after the free time expires, and the amount depends on the agreement for that load. Dispatchers track it closely because unclaimed detention is lost revenue, and delays at one stop can cascade into missed appointments down the line.