Detention (sometimes called demurrage on the road side) is a charge a carrier bills when a truck is held at a loading or unloading point longer than the agreed free time, compensating the carrier for a vehicle that cannot serve another shipment while it waits.
Free time and detention rates are not standardized; they are agreed per shipment or contract and vary by route and customer. Booking a realistic loading or unloading window, and having documents ready before the truck arrives, are the main ways shippers avoid it. See the quote request page to discuss loading conditions for a specific shipment.
