What is a lumper fee?

A lumper fee is a flat payment to third-party workers who load or unload a trailer, common at grocery and big-box distribution centers where the facility doesn't provide dock labor. It's typically paid on the spot and invoiced back to the broker or shipper afterward.

How much free time is standard before detention starts?

There's no federal rule — free time is set by the carrier's tariff or the specific rate confirmation for the load. Two hours is a common default for both loading and unloading, but it can run shorter or longer depending on the lane and customer.

What's a typical detention rate per hour?

Rates vary by carrier and freight type, but $40-75 per hour for dry van freight is common, with reefer and hazmat often billed higher due to added driver risk and equipment sensitivity. The rate should be set in writing before the load, not negotiated after the fact.

How do I prove a detention claim?

A signed bill of lading with arrival and departure times, or an ELD/GPS log showing time on-site, is what actually gets a detention invoice paid. Brokers and shippers routinely reject undocumented detention claims, so drivers should get a stamp or signature at check-in and check-out.

Can lumper fees be reimbursed separately from detention?

Yes — lumper fees and detention pay are billed as separate line items. A driver can be reimbursed for a lumper fee even if they were not held past free time, and can claim detention even at a stop with no lumper fee at all.

US Trucking Accessorials

Truck Detention & Lumper Fee Calculator

Enter free time, time on-site, and any lumper fee for each stop to calculate detention charges across your route.

Stop Free Time Time On-Site Rate/hr Lumper Fee

min

Free Time

Time On-Site

Rate/hr

Lumper Fee

Total Accessorial Charges

—

Enter time on-site for at least one stop above

Free time and detention rates are set by each carrier's tariff or your rate confirmation, not by law — 2 hours free and $50/hr are common defaults, but always check the specific agreement before billing or disputing a charge.

What Are Detention & Lumper Fees?

Detention pay compensates a carrier for a driver's time held beyond the agreed free time at a shipper or receiver. Lumper fees pay third-party workers to load or unload the trailer. Both are accessorial charges layered on top of the linehaul rate.

Free time

The window a shipper or receiver gets to load or unload before detention starts — typically 1-2 hours, set by the rate confirmation or carrier tariff, not by federal law.

Detention time

Every minute the driver is held past free time, usually billed hourly (or pro-rated) at a pre-agreed rate — commonly $40-75/hr for dry van, more for reefer or hazmat.

Lumper fee

A flat fee paid to a third-party crew that physically loads or unloads the trailer, common at grocery and retail distribution centers. Usually paid on the spot, then invoiced back to the broker or shipper.

Proof of time

Detention claims are only as good as the paperwork — a signed BOL with check-in/check-out times or an ELD log is what actually gets a detention invoice paid.

The math

Billable time = Time on-site − Free time

Detention charge = (Billable time ÷ 60) × Hourly rate

What if the driver is held for 5 hours with 2 hours free at $50/hr? That's 3 billable hours × $50 = $150 in detention pay, on top of any lumper fee paid at the dock — all of it billed back through the rate confirmation or a separate detention invoice.

Free Load Planning Tool

Done estimating? Plan the full load.

Drag and drop your cargo, auto-arrange for weight balance, and export step-by-step loading instructions - no account needed.

Open Load Planner

Frequently Asked Questions

Detention pay compensates a carrier when a driver is held at a shipper or receiver longer than the agreed free time. It's an accessorial charge billed separately from the linehaul rate, usually hourly once free time runs out.

Your next load, perfectly planned.

Start free. No credit card. No install.

Plan a Container Plan a Truck Load