Truck Waiting Time and Detention: How to Measure It Fairly
Detention is the charge for a truck waiting longer than agreed. It is also one of the most argued-over lines on a logistics invoice, because the two sides rarely agree on when the clock started.
Updated 2026-10-17 · Depom Ltd
Why detention turns into a dispute
The carrier says the truck arrived at 08:00 and waited three hours. The warehouse says the slot was at 09:30 and the truck was early. Each side has its own notes, and neither can check the other's. Without a shared record, the invoice becomes a negotiation.
Rules that make it fair
- Start the clock at the later of arrival and the booked slot: a truck that arrives early has not been kept waiting, and a late truck cannot bill for its own delay.
- Allow a free period before any charge, set per warehouse and, where needed, per carrier.
- Stop the clock at departure; while the truck is still on site, show the amount so far.
- Exclude waiting the carrier caused, such as missing documents or a vehicle problem, and say so on the line.
- Show the carrier exactly the same figures the warehouse sees.
How Log216 handles it
Log216 records gate-in, dock, work and departure times on every booking, so the clock is never reconstructed from memory. The detention breakdown applies the free period and the hourly rate, lists trucks and dropped trailers separately, and groups totals by carrier. Waiting reasons recorded while the truck waits, such as missing documents or a vehicle issue, take that line out of the charge.
The carrier opens its own screen with the same breakdown for the warehouses it works with, and both sides can download a CSV. It is an invoice breakdown only: Log216 does not take or move any payment.
Trailers on the yard
A trailer left on site occupies space even when no truck is attached. Log216 counts each started day beyond a free period at a daily rate, from the moment the trailer is registered until it leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Does Log216 collect the money?
No. It produces the breakdown you invoice from. Payment stays between you and the carrier.
Can the rate differ per carrier?
Yes. The warehouse sets a default free period and rate, and any carrier link can override them.
