If you've got an unpaid detention claim, you're staring at two realistic options: hire a trucking attorney, or use a claims service like HaulClaim.
Both can get you paid. The right choice depends on the size of your claim and how much of your time you want to spend.
The core tradeoff
| Trucking Attorney | HaulClaim | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | $0 to $500+ | $0 |
| Fee structure | Hourly or contingency | Free during beta |
| Time to resolution | Weeks to months | 2 to 6 weeks |
| Good for claims under $500 | Rarely | Yes |
| Your involvement required | Moderate to high | Minimal |
| Escalation method | Legal demand, litigation | Surety bond + formal claim |
When a trucking attorney makes sense
For claims over $1,500 to $2,000. Attorney fees start to justify themselves at this level. If you're dealing with a broker who owes you $2,000+ in unpaid freight charges or detention across multiple loads, an attorney's leverage is worth the cost.
When you need legal threats. Attorneys can send demand letters on firm letterhead and file suit. For some brokers, the threat of formal litigation is the only thing that works.
Complex disputes. If there's a genuine factual dispute — contested delivery, cargo damage involved, multiple parties — legal expertise matters.
Repeated issues with the same broker. If you're in a pattern of non-payment with one broker, an attorney can address the relationship systematically.
Transportation attorneys who specialize in freight claims note that for individual detention claims under $500, the economics of legal representation rarely work in the driver's favor unless the attorney works on pure contingency.
When a claims service makes sense
For claims under $500. This is the overwhelming majority of detention claims. At typical attorney rates, you're already a significant percentage through a small claim before anything has happened.
When your time is the constraint. A claims service like HaulClaim requires you to upload documents once. They handle the claim, the follow-up, and the escalation. You don't attend anything or prepare anything beyond that initial submission.
When you want to stay out of it. Some drivers don't want to be the ones who "fought" the broker. A third-party service creates distance. The broker's dispute is with HaulClaim, not with you directly.
High volume of small claims. If you're losing $200 to $400 per month across multiple loads, submitting claims through a service is more practical than managing individual legal engagements.
What it costs
HaulClaim is free while it's in beta. There's no fee on whatever is collected — you keep 100%. And if nothing is collected, you owe nothing either way.
For a $200 detention claim, you keep the full $200. For a $500 claim, you keep all $500.
The only thing it costs you is the few minutes it takes to upload your documents.
What about doing it yourself?
You can. The process is:
- Submit a written claim to the broker with documentation
- Follow up if ignored
- File against the surety bond via the FMCSA SAFER system if the broker still doesn't pay
The challenge is time and persistence. Most drivers who start this process give up before step 3. That's the behavior brokers count on.
If you have the documentation and the patience, doing it yourself means keeping 100%. If you'd rather it just get handled, that's what services exist for.
Bottom line
- Claim under $500: Use HaulClaim
- Claim $500 to $1,500: HaulClaim or self-file
- Claim over $1,500: Consider a trucking attorney
- Repeated pattern with one broker: Trucking attorney
The worst option, for claims of any size, is doing nothing.