Detention, lumper and layover fees are extra charges on top of a load’s line haul rate. Detention pays the carrier when a truck is held too long at a shipper or receiver, a lumper fee covers workers who load or unload the freight, and layover pays when a truck has to wait a day or overnight because the load is delayed.
These charges are often called accessorials. They are not automatic. The carrier gets paid for them only when the terms are on the rate confirmation and the dispatcher follows the steps to claim them. Here is how each one works and how to make sure the carrier is paid.
Key takeaways
- Detention is pay for waiting past the free time at a pickup or delivery. Layover is pay for a delay of a day or overnight.
- A lumper fee pays for third-party workers who unload or load the freight. The broker usually reimburses it with a receipt.
- Only the terms written on the rate confirmation count. Agree on them before the driver rolls.
- Tell the broker as soon as a delay starts, and keep proof: arrival and departure times, receipts and approvals.
What is detention pay in trucking?
Detention is money a broker or shipper pays the carrier when the truck is kept at a facility longer than the agreed free time. Free time is the number of hours the facility gets to load or unload the truck before detention starts.
The rate confirmation should say three things about detention: how many free hours there are, what the hourly rate is, and what proof the broker needs. Some brokers also cap the total or require the driver to have arrived on time for detention to apply.
Long waits hurt more than the carrier’s schedule. They can eat into the driver’s available hours under FMCSA hours of service rules, which may push back the next load. Check the current rules on the FMCSA website.
What is a lumper fee?
A lumper fee is a charge for workers, called lumpers, who load or unload freight at a warehouse. Many grocery and food distribution centers use them, and the driver usually cannot unload the truck themselves at those docks.
The lumper fee is normally the shipper’s or receiver’s cost, passed through the broker. In practice, it is paid in one of two ways:
- The broker sends an electronic payment code that the driver gives to the lumper service.
- The driver or carrier pays at the dock and the broker reimburses the carrier later, against the receipt.
Either way, confirm with the broker before the driver pays anything, and make sure the driver gets a receipt. Without a receipt, the carrier may not get the money back.
What is a layover fee?
A layover fee pays the carrier when a truck has to wait a full day or overnight because a pickup or delivery was pushed back. For example, the receiver cannot take the freight until tomorrow, so the driver sits all night instead of moving to the next load.
Layover is usually a flat amount per day, agreed with the broker. It is different from detention, which counts hours at the dock. A truck can be paid detention one day and layover the next if the delay keeps going.
How do detention, lumper and layover fees compare?
| Fee | What it pays for | How it is usually set | Proof to keep |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detention | Waiting past the free time at a pickup or delivery | Hourly rate after a set number of free hours | Arrival and departure times on the bill of lading, check-in records, broker approval |
| Lumper | Workers who load or unload the freight | Charged by the lumper service at the dock | Lumper receipt and the broker’s payment code or approval |
| Layover | A day or overnight delay caused by the shipper, receiver or broker | Flat amount per day, agreed with the broker | Written notice of the delay and the broker’s approval |
Our guide to reading a rate confirmation line by line shows where these terms usually appear.
A worked example
The numbers below are an example only, not typical rates or fees. Every broker sets its own terms.
The rate confirmation says detention starts after 2 free hours at $50 an hour, and the broker will reimburse a lumper with a receipt.
- The driver arrives on time for an 8am delivery appointment and checks in.
- At 10am, the truck is still waiting. You email the broker with the arrival time and say detention starts now.
- The truck is unloaded and leaves at 1pm. That is 5 hours at the dock, so 3 hours count as detention: 3 × $50 = $150.
- The lumper charge is $200. The broker sends a payment code, and the driver keeps the receipt.
When you invoice, you send the rate confirmation, the signed bill of lading with the in and out times, the lumper receipt and the broker’s emails approving the extra time. A short, clear paper trail is what gets these fees paid.
How do dispatchers make sure the carrier gets paid?
- Agree on the terms before booking. Ask about free time, the detention rate, lumpers and layover on the call, then check they are on the rate confirmation.
- Get the driver there on time. Many brokers only pay detention if the truck arrived for its appointment.
- Record times. Ask the driver to write arrival and departure times on the bill of lading and have the facility sign it.
- Notify the broker early. Email before the free time runs out, not after the truck leaves. Keep it in writing.
- Get approval before paying a lumper. Confirm the amount and how it will be paid, then keep the receipt.
- Invoice quickly with every document. Missing paperwork is a common reason extra charges are refused.
Our free tools page has a trucking profit calculator that shows a load’s break-even rate and an HOS trip planner that estimates drive time, both useful when a long wait at the dock is likely. For a picture of how these tasks fit into a normal shift, read what a truck dispatcher does each day.
This is general information, not legal advice. The rate confirmation and the broker-carrier agreement decide what is owed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is detention pay guaranteed?
No. Detention is paid only if it is on the rate confirmation and the conditions are met, such as an on-time arrival and notice to the broker. Even then, it can take follow-up to collect.
What happens if the rate confirmation does not mention detention?
Ask the broker to add the terms before the carrier signs. If the load goes ahead without them, any detention payment is up to the broker.
Can a driver refuse to pay a lumper?
The driver can call you before paying, and you can call the broker. In many warehouses, the freight will not be unloaded until the lumper is paid, so settle the payment method with the broker quickly.
Is layover the same as a TONU?
No. Layover pays for a delay when the load still moves. A TONU, or truck ordered not used, is a payment some brokers agree to when the load is cancelled after the truck was dispatched.
Learn to protect every load
The Dispatcher 101 course covers rate confirmations, accessorials and paperwork in its Booking Your First Load section, so you know what to ask for before the truck rolls. Students on both plans can ask Joe Piazza about a real detention or lumper problem through 1-on-1 mentorship, and the Gold plan adds the agreements and templates, 12 months of load board access and a 14-day money-back guarantee.
