Attention For Detention

By Seth Newman

Sooner or later, and probably sooner, your shipment will come across detention. It’s a common issue in the logistics industry and one that happens to over half of the carriers in the U.S. either at the shipper or consignee. According to data compiled by DAT, 63 percent of drivers spend more than three hours waiting to be loaded or unloaded while at a shipper’s dock. Detention times of between three and four hours are common, 54 percent of drivers reported, and nine percent said five hour waits or longer were typical. 

What exactly is detention and how does it affect your freight? Detention varies from shipper-to-shipper and from consignee-to-consignee, but the industry standard is that after two hours of waiting time at the dock, detention starts. After that, there is an added fee by the hour. Common detention rates range from $25-$50 an hour. When a carrier is held at the shipper or receiver it can turn into a snowball effect. From the driver running out of hours, being late to delivery, and missing the next pick up, various issues can arise when serious detention occurs.

 

Here’s a few ways you can help improve your chances of avoiding detention. 

1. Check in with the shipper/receiver. If the carrier is going to be early, right on time or late, it’s always a good idea to check in with the shipper/receiver no matter what to let them know the status of the driver. Ally Logistics has a dedicated customer service team that notifies shippers/receivers on the expected times of arrival for our carriers. 
2. Change the appointment time. This isn’t always possible, but the sooner a carrier knows if they are going to arrive early or late, the better the chances are that the shipper/receiver can accommodate a change in the appointment time. By being honest on times for arrival, it can help clear up congestion and make things move along quicker. 
3. Keep an accurate log of the in/out times. Carriers for Ally Logistics will not be eligible for detention without in-and-out times on the BOL with a signature from the shipper/receiver. Proper record keeping is key in order to determine who is eligible for detention, and who is not. 
4. Ask for assistance. If a carrier has notified Ally Logistics that their driver is getting close to detention, our customer service team gets into contact with the shipper/receiver to see if there’s anything we can do to speed up the process. Sometimes there’s an issue that both parties aren’t aware of like requested paperwork, required driver-assists, or lack of communication. Ally Logistics helps provide a smooth middle-man in communication and solutions between shippers/receivers and carriers. 
5. Know the expected wait times. Some shippers/receivers are up front with the expected wait times. Not all facilities get trucks out in two hours, there is some freight that requires longer loading times between four and eight hours. At Ally Logistics, we make sure the carrier is aware of the expected loading times and that detention doesn’t always start after two hours. 
6. Don’t miss appointments. Carriers who arrive late to their appointments will not receive detention. It’s important to know whether the shipper/receiver is first come, first served (FCFS) or scheduled by appointment. Ally Logistics works with shippers/receivers to notify our carriers whether the facility is FCFS or by appointment. 
7. Be patient. We are all working together as a shipper, carrier and broker to help move freight. All of us want to find the quickest solution to faster loading/unloading times. The better the communication, understanding and cohesive effort, the better the results will be for avoiding detention. 

Detention happens, it’s a somewhat common issue in the logistics industry but by pairing yourself with a trusted 3PL that understands the process of detention, you can help cut down on the costs of it and receive clear communication from our customer service team. Want to get in touch with Ally Logistics about how we can help you out on detention issues with your freight? Give us a call at 888-466-1024 to talk to a representative.