Why does detention hit a fleet's cash flow so hard?
A truck waiting at a dock still costs money every hour: the driver's time, the equipment payment, insurance and the load it cannot pick up next. When a morning appointment turns into an afternoon departure, the next load slips, and sometimes a whole day of revenue disappears. Across a fleet, a few bad receivers can quietly reshape an entire month.
Picture a regional carrier running dry van freight between distribution centers in New Jersey and the Carolinas. One receiver routinely holds trucks for hours past the appointment. Each delay pushes a driver into a layover, a missed reload and an empty morning. The invoice for the original load arrives on time, but the week's revenue is short, and the detention charge, if it gets billed at all, trails behind.
The costs arrive now. The accessorial pay, if it comes, arrives weeks later.
How should fleets document detention time?
Document detention from the moment the truck arrives, using records a customer cannot easily dispute. ELD location data, geofence arrival and departure stamps, time-stamped check-in slips, driver notes and photos of the gate all help. The goal is a clean record that matches the rate confirmation's detention terms, so the charge is paid instead of argued.
- Arrival proof: geofence or ELD timestamps showing when the truck reached the facility
- Check-in record: a signed or stamped gate slip with the time
- Departure proof: the bill of lading signed-out time, plus ELD data
- Notice: a message to the broker or shipper when free time is about to run out
- Terms: the detention clause from the rate confirmation or contract
Many fleets set dispatch to send an automatic alert once free time is close to expiring. That single habit turns more detention into paid detention.
| Step | What it solves | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Geofence and ELD records | Disputed detention charges | Records that do not match the rate confirmation |
| Billing accessorials with the invoice | Late or forgotten charges | Missing customer portal requirements |
| Business line of credit | Uneven weekly revenue | Balances that never come back down |
| Repricing or dropping a lane | Chronic unpaid detention | Losing volume you depend on |
How long does accessorial pay usually take?
Accessorial pay often takes longer than linehaul pay because it needs extra approval. A broker may have to collect from the shipper before approving the charge, and incomplete paperwork restarts the clock. Some customers pay accessorials with the load invoice, while others handle them separately. Plan cash flow as if detention pay arrives late, and treat it as a bonus when it does not.
To shorten the wait:
- Submit the detention charge with the load invoice, not days later
- Attach all supporting records in one package
- Match the format and portal each customer requires
- Track open accessorial charges separately from linehaul receivables
- Follow up on a set schedule instead of waiting
When does a line of credit fit detention-driven gaps?
A business line of credit fits when detention causes recurring, uneven dips in weekly revenue. You draw during a bad stretch, repay as loads and accessorials are paid, and the limit becomes available again. It works best for fleets with steady deposits across several customers, where the gap is timing rather than a lane that simply does not make money.
A line is usually a better match than a lump sum, because detention does not arrive on a schedule. One week is clean, the next loses two truck-days. Read how a line of credit works for fleets. For a one-time gap you can size, such as a single customer's delayed accessorial batch, working capital may be simpler.
When should you fix the customer instead of borrowing?
If one shipper or receiver causes most of your detention and rarely pays for it, borrowing to absorb the losses just funds their inefficiency. Raise the issue with the customer, reprice the lane, change appointment windows or walk away from the freight. Funding should bridge honest timing gaps, not subsidize a facility that burns your trucks' hours every week.
Ask three questions about each problem facility:
- Does the rate on this lane still work after the hours lost?
- Is detention being billed and actually paid?
- Would the truck earn more on a different lane?
Our guide to East Coast lane economics walks through judging a lane before you commit more trucks or more borrowing to it.
How I-95 Funding helps fleets carry the gap
I-95 Funding helps fleets get funded through our funding partners. We look at your deposits and customer mix, then match you with lines of credit or working capital that fit how your revenue actually moves. Each offer is explained in plain terms, including amount, total repayment and payment schedule, before you decide anything.
Requirements vary by product and funder; many look at time in business, monthly revenue and credit. Freight factoring is an alternative some owners compare. See how it works, or start an application when you are ready.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get funding based on unpaid detention charges?
Most funders look at your overall deposits and business profile rather than individual accessorial charges. Unpaid detention is hard to count on because it can be disputed. Treat it as upside, and size any funding to the revenue you reliably collect.
Should drivers be paid for detention time?
Many fleets share detention pay with drivers to keep them engaged and willing to document time accurately. How you structure driver pay is your decision, and wage rules vary, so check with the official agency or an employment professional before changing pay policies.
Is layover different from detention for cash flow?
Layover usually means a truck and driver lose a full day or more, so the cash flow hit is larger and harder to recover. It often comes from a missed appointment or a load that is not ready. Bill it separately and document the reason clearly.
How do I know if detention is a timing problem or a profit problem?
If detention pay arrives late but eventually arrives, and lanes still earn after the delays, it is timing. If the charges go unpaid or the lane loses money after lost hours, it is a profit problem. Funding helps the first, not the second.
What documents do funders ask for?
Expect recent business bank statements, owner ID and basic business and operating details. Some funders also ask about your customer mix and receivables. Clean statements that show steady deposits across several customers help most.
Keep trucks moving through the slow docks
Tell us how detention affects your weeks and we will show you options from our funding partners.
Updated September 14, 2026 · I-95 Funding Team