The True Cost of Driver Detention: Financial Losses and Safety Concerns in Trucking
The report quantifies the direct and indirect losses stemming from detention times, totaling billions in lost productivity and additional costs. Fleets are charging detention fees, yet fewer than half are paid, indicating a widespread acceptance of unpaid wait times. Additionally, the report uncovers that detained trucks are driven faster post-detention, and drivers are also speeding on routes known for detainment. Financial Impacts of Driver Detention ATRI's research reveals staggering numbers: the for-hire trucking sector alone lost over 135 million hours to detention in 2023, translating to $3.6 billion in direct expenses. Not only does this amount to unpaid labor for drivers, but it also incurs operational costs for fleets, particularly when unplanned delays push delivery schedules or require last-minute rerouting. Although 94.5% of fleets impose detention fees, fewer than half of these invoices are paid, which poses a severe cash flow problem and lea...