Detention, Layover, TONU: How We Get You Paid Faster (and What Most Drivers Leave on the Table)

A clear guide for dry van drivers on detention, layover, TONU, and lumper reimbursement, what qualifies, what paperwork is required, and a simple process to get paid consistently.

The uncomfortable truth

A lot of drivers lose money on accessorials because:

• they don’t document it correctly

• they don’t ask early enough

• the rate con language doesn’t support the claim

• they don’t know what “counts”

• they wait until after delivery to bring it up

This is exactly where a strong dispatch partner pays for itself.

Part 1: Simple definitions (no industry fluff)

Detention

Detention is pay for time spent waiting at shipper/receiver beyond the free time allowed.

Usually it requires:

• proof of arrival/check-in time

• proof of release/departure time

• sometimes a signed form or timestamped document

Layover

Layover is pay when a load causes you to lose a day (or significant hours) because you couldn’t move due to shipper/receiver delay.

This typically happens when:

• you arrive and can’t load/unload that day

• they tell you to come back later (next day)

• you lose the ability to run a productive schedule

  
  

TONU (Truck Ordered Not Used)

TONU is pay when:

• you were dispatched to a load,

• you accepted,

• you showed up (or were en route),

• and the shipper cancels or can’t load you.

TONU usually requires:

• proof you were on the load

• proof of dispatch/confirmation

• proof of arrival or attempt to arrive (depends on broker terms)

Lumper Reimbursement

A lumper fee is when the receiver requires paid labor to unload.

Reimbursement usually requires:

• lumper receipt

• proof you paid (if you paid)

• broker approval process (EFS/comchek or reimbursement)

Part 2: The #1 reason drivers don’t get paid for these

The #1 reason is documentation timing.

Many drivers wait until after delivery to mention it.By then:

• the broker doesn’t care

• the paperwork isn’t clean

• the rate con language gets used against you

The win is to handle accessorials in real time.

Part 3: The real-world process that works (industry standard in practice)

Here’s the process we use to maximize paid accessorials:

Step A: Confirm detention rules before you roll

Before pickup, we confirm:

• free time allowed (e.g., first 2 hours free)

• detention rate (e.g., $50/hr) and increments (hourly vs half-hour)

• when detention starts (from appointment time or from check-in?)

• required proof (BOL timestamp? guard shack check-in? signed form?)

If a broker won’t confirm this, that’s a red flag.

Step B: Driver sends “arrived + checked in” message immediately

This is the moment most drivers miss.

Driver message should include:

• “Arrived at pickup/delivery, checked in.”

• Time of arrival

• Who they checked in with (if known)

• Any notes (line is long, told to wait, etc.)

• Photo proof if possible (guard shack sign, check-in screen, location stamp)

Step C: Dispatcher starts the clock and flags the threshold

When free time is about to expire, we notify the broker early:

• “Driver checked in at ___, we’re approaching detention. Please confirm detention approval.”

This protects you because it creates a written record before the bill is large.

Step D: Driver sends “loaded/unloaded” with time stamps

When released:

• send exact release time

• send BOL/POD photos

• send any signed time slips

Step E: Detention request is sent same day

Not next week. Not “when we get around to it.”

Same day:

• check-in time + release time

• appointment time (if applicable)

• BOL/POD proof

• detention amount requested per agreed terms

Part 4: How to avoid getting denied

Here are the common denial reasons—and how to prevent them.

Denial reason 1: “No proof of check-in”

Fix: always send a timestamped check-in message + photo proof if possible.

Denial reason 2: “Detention starts from appointment time, not arrival”

Fix: confirm the rule in writing before booking.

Denial reason 3: “You didn’t notify us in time”

Fix: dispatch notifies broker when free time is about to expire.

Denial reason 4: “Rate con doesn’t include detention”

Fix: we negotiate and confirm detention policy before acceptance.

Denial reason 5: “Receiver was closed / you arrived late”

Fix: protect appointment integrity and track delays in writing.

Part 5: When layover applies (and when it doesn’t)

Layover typically applies when the delay causes:

• a full day of lost productivity

It usually does not apply when:

• you arrived late

• you missed the appointment

• the issue was preventable by the carrier

Key move: if you’re told to come back tomorrow, we immediately request layover approval in writing, same day.

Part 6: TONU: how to actually get paid

TONU gets denied when:

• broker claims the load was never “confirmed”

• driver can’t prove they were dispatched

• cancellation was vague or undocumented

To get paid:

• Save the dispatch confirmation / rate con

• Capture the cancellation message/email

• If you arrive, document arrival (photo + timestamp)

• Submit TONU request immediately with proof

Part 7: Why this matters to weekly revenue (not just “extra money”)

Accessorials aren’t “bonus.” They’re revenue recovery.

If detention steals 6 hours:

• you lose miles

• you lose reload options

• you risk missing appointments

• your week becomes unstable

Getting paid for detention won’t replace the time, but it:

• compensates the loss

• reinforces professionalism

• trains brokers to take you seriously

Part 8: The American Trust Logistics promise in plain terms

If you hire a dispatch service, you should get:

• clean paperwork

• real-time communication

• someone tracking your time

• someone pushing back professionally

• someone making sure you’re not leaving money on the table

That’s what we do.

If you’re a dry van owner-operator who’s tired of waiting for free, American Trust Logistics runs your load planning, broker communication, paperwork, and accessorial recovery, so you keep moving and stop donating your time to shippers and receivers.

🇺🇸📌 If you’re ready for a dispatch partnership built on discipline, strategy, and profitability, American Trust Logistics is built for you.

Apply today to work with a team that brings Navy discipline to trucking.