How Detention Time Is Creating Hidden Legal Risk for Shippers
For many shippers, detention time has long been viewed as a carrier issue—an operational inconvenience handled through accessorial charges or contract language. But that perception is quickly becoming outdated. In 2025 and moving into 2026, what was once viewed as a scheduling inefficiency is now intersecting with safety, liability, and regulatory scrutiny. Detention Time Is No Longer Operationally Isolated Detention time occurs when a driver waits beyond agreed free time to be loaded or unloaded. While common, excessive detention creates cascading impacts that extend well beyond the dock. Prolonged wait times can lead to: compressed hours-of-service availability increased driver fatigue and stress rushed driving behaviors to meet delivery windows missed appointments and downstream delays These impacts are now being examined through a legal and safety lens, not just an efficiency one. Why Regulators Are Paying Attention Federal regulator...