A layover is an extended delay — typically overnight or around 24 hours — while a driver waits on part of a load, such as a delayed pickup or a delivery appointment the next morning. It ties up both the driver and the truck without moving freight.
Because it costs the carrier time and availability, a layover often comes with a fee, similar in spirit to detention but over a longer stretch. Layovers can also intersect with Hours of Service, when a driver has to stop until they’re legally rested to continue.