Drayage Drivers Caught in the Demurrage Trap – Can the FMC Finally Bring Relief?

by TRUCKERS VA
(UNITED STATES)

Introduction – Waiting at the Port Shouldn’t Feel Like Paying Rent

If you’ve ever done port work, you already know: demurrage fees are the devil.

You get a container off the ship, then wait…
And wait...
And the port says, “You didn’t move it fast enough — that’ll be $300 a day.” 😤

Now the drayage industry — the folks moving freight in and out of ports — is begging the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to stop the madness and bring some common sense to demurrage billing.

Let’s break this down driver-style: what’s happening, why it matters, and whether the FMC’s gonna show up as a hero — or just another bystander with a clipboard.

💸 What Is Demurrage? (And Why Is It Such a Scam?)

Demurrage is a fee charged by ocean carriers or terminal operators when a container sits too long at the port after being offloaded.

Sounds fair, until…

The container’s not available

The port is jammed

You’re not allowed to pick it up

The booking system crashes

And somehow… you still get charged.
That’s like getting towed because you couldn’t unlock your own car — while the valet holds your keys.

Demurrage was meant to keep freight moving. Instead, it's become a money printer for ports and carriers, and a financial black hole for drayage companies and truckers.

📦 Drayage Industry to FMC: “Help Us Out, Already”

The drayage industry (aka the port warriors who run short hauls and sit in lines longer than a Costco gas station) is urging the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to step in with stricter rules on billing transparency.

They’re asking for:

Real-time access to container availability

Clear dispute procedures when fees are wrongly applied

No billing for “no-fault” delays (like port congestion or customs holds)

Because right now? Carriers are slapping fees on bills even when drivers couldn’t legally or physically retrieve the container.

It’s like being fined for not dancing — while your legs are duct-taped together.

⏱️ The Problem: Time-Based Fees, but No Control Over Time

Here’s the kicker.

Drivers are penalized for delays they didn’t cause:

The terminal’s closed early? Demurrage.

Your chassis is on backorder? Demurrage.

The crane operator’s out to lunch? Demurrage.

And the clock keeps ticking.

One container sitting too long can wipe out the week’s profit. For small carriers, it’s the difference between surviving and shutting down.

Worse? Many of the biggest shippers don’t fight the fees — they just pass them down to the drayage carrier or broker.

That means truckers are footing the bill, again.

⚖️ FMC: Gearing Up or Just Gearing Down?

The Federal Maritime Commission has talked big lately — with hearings, rule proposals, and public comments open to the industry.

Some recent moves:

A rule proposal to force clearer invoicing for demurrage and detention

A push to define billing standards

Holding major ocean carriers accountable for shady fee practices

But here’s the issue:
Port power runs deep, and many of these carriers operate on global contracts that are designed to confuse and delay accountability.

So far, it’s more talk than teeth. And that’s what’s got the drayage world uneasy.

🧠 What Drivers and Small Fleets Should Know

If you’re in port work or thinkin’ about it, here’s what you NEED to know right now:

Track everything – Time stamps, appointment screenshots, GPS logs

Challenge unfair invoices – You have 30 days (or less) to dispute

Build relationships at terminals – It won’t stop bad billing, but it helps get info faster

And most importantly?

👉 If demurrage is eating your margins, it may be time to diversify or shift out of port freight altogether.

Bottom Line – Don’t Wait on the FMC to Save You

The drayage industry is right to call out this broken billing system. And the FMC needs to step up with real enforcement, not just promises.

But if you’re a trucker living invoice to invoice, the truth is harsh:

Every delay costs you

Every container is a gamble

Every fee is stacked against you

So while we hope for regulatory relief, smart drivers are also looking for relief outside the system.

💰 Stack Dollars Outside the Port

The port hustle is real — but it doesn’t have to be your only stream of income.

Truckers across the country are learning how to make money online while they’re off duty, in between loads, or even in detention time.

✅ No more waiting on the FMC
✅ No more begging dispatch to cover losses
✅ Just skills and systems that work from your phone

👉 Start your transition at OffDutyMoney.com


Because port delays are out of your hands — but your future profits shouldn’t be.