Industry

The True Cost of Truck Detention Time

February 8, 2026

The True Cost of Truck Detention Time

Truck detention time costs the transportation industry billions of dollars every year. But the true cost goes far beyond money. It impacts driver safety, quality of life, and the entire supply chain.


What is Detention Time?


Detention time is the period a truck driver spends waiting at a shipping or receiving facility beyond a reasonable loading or unloading window (typically 2 hours). During this time, the driver is not earning miles, and the truck is not generating revenue.


The Numbers are Staggering


According to FMCSA and the U.S. DOT Office of Inspector General (2018):

  • **6.2% increase in crash risk** for every 15-minute increase in average dwell time
  • **2.5 hours** is the average load time, that's 10x those 15-minute increments
  • The average driver loses **$1,281–$1,534 per year** in earnings due to unpaid detention (OIG Report, 2018)

    • How Spot On and NoDwell are Solving This


    Through our partnership with NoDwell, Inc., we're attacking detention time from multiple angles:


  • **Drop & Hook Capability**: We're making the drop and hook concept available to all shippers and carriers
  • **Democratized Yard Management**: Providing yard management for less than a facility can do it themselves
  • **Data Driven**: Optimizes orders by priority for full transparency and seamless execution

    • The result? A **62% reduction in crash risk**, **30% increase in driver productivity**, and a better quality of life for every driver on the road.


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