Most truck drivers lose hundreds of dollars a month to unpaid detention time. Not because it's legal. Because nobody told them they could fight back — or how.
This guide walks you through exactly how to claim detention pay, step by step.
What is detention pay?
Detention pay is compensation owed to a truck driver when they're held at a shipper or receiver beyond the free time written into their rate confirmation. Most contracts set a two-hour grace period. After that, the clock is ticking and the broker owes you money.
The problem is that almost nobody collects it. That fear of losing future loads is real. But so is the money.
Step 1 — Check your rate confirmation
Before you do anything else, pull up the rate confirmation for that load. Look for:
- The free time allowance (usually 1 to 2 hours)
- The detention rate (commonly $50 to $75 per hour after free time)
- Any specific language about how detention must be reported
If detention pay is written in that document, you have a contract right. That's not a favor you're asking for. That's money you earned.
Step 2 — Document your wait time
This is where most drivers lose their case before it starts. You need proof.
The strongest evidence you can have:
- GPS data showing when your truck arrived at the facility and when it left
- Timestamps from the facility — check-in logs, lumper receipts, BOL signatures
- Photos or notes taken at the time with timestamps
- Text or email exchanges with the broker mentioning the delay
GPS data is especially powerful because it's objective. No one can argue with coordinates and timestamps.
Step 3 — Calculate what you're owed
Simple math:
- Total time at facility − free time = billable detention hours
- Billable hours × your detention rate = amount owed
Example: You arrived at 8 AM and didn't get loaded until noon. Your contract gives you 2 hours free time and pays $50/hour after that. You're owed $100 for that load.
Small number, yes. But multiply that across 3 to 4 loads a week and you're looking at $300 to $400 a month walking out the door.
Step 4 — Submit a formal claim to the broker
Don't just call and ask. Put it in writing. Your claim should include:
- Load number and date
- Facility name and address
- Arrival and departure times (with proof)
- Calculation of amount owed
- Reference to the rate confirmation terms
Email is better than a phone call — it creates a paper trail. If the broker ignores you or refuses, that documentation matters later.
Step 5 — Escalate if ignored
This is where most drivers stop. The broker doesn't respond, the driver moves on, and the money disappears.
But since January 2026, you have a real escalation path. Under FMCSA regulation 49 CFR Part 387, licensed brokers must hold a $75,000 surety bond in liquid form. A valid detention claim can be filed directly against that bond.
If the bond drops below $75,000, the broker has 7 days to restore it or they lose their operating license. That's real leverage — and most drivers don't know it exists.
The honest truth about doing this yourself
Following all these steps takes time. It requires organization, documentation, and a willingness to push back on brokers who are betting you won't bother.
For a $100 claim, most drivers calculate that the hassle isn't worth it. That calculation is exactly why $1.2 billion in detention pay goes uncollected every year in the United States.
Services like HaulClaim handle this entire process on your behalf. You upload your documents, they file the claim. If nothing is collected, you pay nothing. And while HaulClaim is in beta it's free, so you keep 100% of whatever is collected.
Bottom line
You have the right to detention pay. You probably have GPS data proving your time. And since early 2026, you have a regulatory mechanism that actually gives your claim teeth.
The only thing standing between you and that money is paperwork — and the willingness to file it.
Ready to file your first claim? Get started with HaulClaim →