Driver Resources
Know your rights.
Get paid what you're owed.
Straight-up guides on detention pay, broker disputes, and the law. Written for drivers, not lawyers.
Detention Basics
What Is Detention Pay?
Detention pay is money truckers are owed for being held past the free time in their rate con. Here is how it works, and why most drivers never collect it.
How to Claim Detention Pay (Step by Step)
Most truck drivers lose hundreds of dollars a month to unpaid detention, not because it's legal, but because nobody told them how to fight back. Here's the step-by-step process.
How to Get Paid for Detention Time
A practical guide to collecting detention pay you're owed, from the documentation you need to the escalation path that actually works in 2026.
How to Calculate Detention Pay
Work out exactly what you are owed for time stuck at a dock: free time, billable hours, and the rate. Two worked examples plus the mistakes that shrink your claim.
Detention vs. Layover vs. TONU: What Is the Difference?
Three different things brokers pay for, three different rules. Know which one applies so you bill the right charge and actually collect.
Your Rights
Can a Broker Legally Refuse to Pay Detention?
Yes, a broker can refuse. But a documented claim backed by a signed rate confirmation is enforceable. Here's what your legal rights actually are.
Broker Refused to Pay Detention: What Are Your Rights?
A broker refused your detention pay claim. Here's what your actual rights are, the common tactics brokers use, and the enforcement path that now has real teeth.
What to Do When a Broker Won't Pay Detention
Broker ignoring your detention claim? Most drivers stop too early. Here's exactly what to do next, including the surety bond escalation most drivers don't know exists.
How Long Can a Shipper or Receiver Hold You?
There is no legal limit on dock time, but there is a limit on free time. Here is what your rate confirmation says, what HOS means for you, and when the clock starts paying.
Does Detention Pay Apply to Company Drivers?
Company drivers get detention too, but the money flows differently than for owner-operators. Here is who owes you, what your contract controls, and how to make sure it reaches your check.
The Law
49 CFR Part 387 Explained for Owner-Operators
A plain-English breakdown of 49 CFR Part 387, the federal law governing broker surety bonds and what the January 2026 amendment means for detention pay claims.
The New FMCSA Rule: What Changed in January 2026
In January 2026, the FMCSA updated 49 CFR Part 387, making broker surety bonds liquid and adding a 7-day replenishment rule. Here's what it means for drivers.
How Much Detention Pay Goes Uncollected Each Year?
The US trucking industry loses approximately $1.2 billion in unpaid detention pay every year. Here's the breakdown, and why this is a structural problem, not bad luck.
Montgomery v. Caribe Transport: Can a Broker Be Sued?
A 2024 federal ruling on broker liability. What the Seventh Circuit decided in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport, the circuit split it deepened, and what it means.
Your Options
Trucking Attorney vs. Claims Service: Which Should You Use?
If you have an unpaid detention claim, should you hire a trucking attorney or use a claims service? The right choice depends on the size of your claim.
How to Recover Detention Pay in 2026: Every Option Compared
An honest comparison of every method for recovering unpaid detention pay in 2026, self-filing, claims services, attorneys, and small claims court. Pick the right one for your situation.
What to Put on a Detention Invoice
A detention invoice that gets paid has seven things on it. Here is the checklist, plus why GPS timestamps and a signed BOL do most of the work.
Manage your account
Want to close your account and delete your data? Here's exactly how.
Reading is step one.
Getting paid is step two.
Log your next load in the app. We file the claim and chase the broker.