Detention, Layover & TONU: Accessorials You're Leaving on the Table

The rate gets you the load; accessorials protect your time. Most drivers leave this money unclaimed because they don’t document it. Don’t be most drivers.

Detention — paid waiting

After the free period (typically 2 hours at a facility), detention compensates your waiting time — commonly $50–$75/hour. Keys to collecting:

• Note your exact arrival time (geofenced ELD pings help)
• Get the in/out times on the BOL
• Notify dispatch/the broker before free time expires, not after

Layover — the lost day

When a load pushes to the next day through no fault of yours, layover pay (often $150–$300+) applies. Confirm layover terms on the rate con before you accept — after the fact is negotiation from weakness.

TONU — truck ordered, not used

Load cancels after you’ve committed or arrived? TONU ($150–$250 typical) is your compensation. The trigger is usually arrival or dispatch commitment — know which your broker honors.

How to actually collect

1. Document everything — timestamps, names, BOL notations, photos of the dock board
2. Report in real time — tell your dispatcher while it’s happening
3. Invoice separately — accessorials often bill apart from linehaul; follow up until paid

The dispatcher advantage

Chasing a $200 detention claim costs you an hour you could be driving. Our dispatchers document, claim, and follow up on accessorials as part of the service — small money that adds up to real money across a year.