Detention Time SCAM – Where Your Time Goes to Die

by TRUCKERS VA
(UNITED STATES)

Intro: If Time Is Money, Why Are Truckers Always Broke at the Dock?

You know the story.
You show up early.
You sit.
You wait.
You stew in a sea of forklifts and empty promises.

Four hours later, you’re still there…
And when you ask about detention pay?

“Oh, it wasn’t authorized.”
“The shipper denied it.”
“We’ll look into it.”

Translation? You just got scammed — again.

What They Say vs. What You Actually Get

Carriers love to advertise:

“After 2 hours, you’ll get paid detention time.”

Sounds fair, right?

Except here’s what really happens:

Dispatch forgets to log your arrival

Shipper claims you were late (even if you weren’t)

Broker says detention was “never approved”

You get $20 or nothing at all for sitting 5+ hours

Meanwhile, the carrier is billing the shipper $50 to $100 an hour, and you?
You’re eating microwave food in your sleeper… and losing your next load window.

How This Scam Actually Works

Let’s break it down:

✔️ Carriers charge detention fees – When a driver is held beyond the free time (usually 2 hours), the shipper is billed.

✔️ Drivers see a fraction of it — if anything – That money doesn’t always go to the one who did the waiting.

✔️ Documentation is your enemy – If no one logs your in/out times right, it’s “your word vs theirs.”

✔️ It’s all about padding margins – The longer they can delay you without paying, the better their profit margin on that load.

Let’s be real — it’s not a bug in the system. It IS the system.

The Hidden Costs No One Talks About

This isn’t just about a missed $50.

Here’s what detention time really steals from you:

Hours of Service – You burn your clock waiting, not driving

Next Load Missed – Delays cost you the next run

Stress Levels Skyrocket – Especially when no one answers the damn phone

Mental Burnout – Constant disrespect wears you down

Fuel for Free – Ever waited while your reefer runs or APU ticks away?

Detention time is the industry’s way of saying:

“We need you to be on time…
...so we can disrespect your time.”

Why They Keep Getting Away With It

👔 Dispatchers blame the broker
📦 Brokers blame the shipper
🏢 Carriers blame “policy”
🫵 And the driver gets stuck with the short end

Here’s why the scam works:

No accountability – Most detention is under-the-table

No union – Drivers are isolated, not united

High turnover – If you complain too much? They’ll just replace you

Driver silence – Most don’t push back, they just stew

This isn’t a bug. It’s the business model.

What Drivers Can Do to Fight Back

No one’s handing you justice at the dock. But you can protect yourself:

📸 Snap photos of in/out times
Use your phone to document arrival and departure if the ELD or guard shack doesn’t.

📝 Keep a detention log
Track your own detention and compare it with your paycheck.

📤 Email dispatch the moment you arrive
Create a paper trail — “Arrived at dock 10:17 AM – no movement as of 12:30.”

💬 Talk to other drivers
Let other drivers know which shippers delay and which carriers don’t pay.

💡 And if you're leased on: negotiate or walk
If your time ain’t respected, neither should your loyalty be.

Bottom Line: This Ain’t Just About Money — It’s About Respect

Your wheels only move so many hours a day. And when those hours are wasted — unpaid — you’re being robbed.

The sad part? Most dispatchers and office folks have no idea what that waiting feels like.

But you do.

And it’s time to make it clear:
If you don’t pay me for my time, you don’t get my time.

Want to Stop Losing While You Sit?

👉 Learn the real game of trucking and how to survive smarter at LifeAsATrucker.com

👉 Want to start making money off-duty so waiting doesn’t wreck your week? Go to OffDutyMoney.com