When to ask for detention?

it pays to read the rules on detention outlined in your companies driver manual, some want you to wait 2 hrs after your appointment others require that you wait 4 hrs. before you request detention pay.

 

i would never wait four hours for free!
I understand there can be issues causing delay but why should the transporter be penalized for a mess up on the shippers or receivers end.
time is money and most people apparently think the driver's time isn't valuable.
I've seen my truck loaded in 15 minutes front to back by an older gentleman in PA using a forklift.
I've also seen it floor loaded front to back top to bottom in 1 hour.
so please don't tell me you need 2 hours to load my truck when you knew you ordered a truck to deliver the load.
Be as prepared as we have to be to pick it up and deliver it on time. If we are 15 mins late at some places they may refuse to take the load or make you wait days for a reschedule.
mutual respect goes a long way.

 

You said your appt was at 12:00 and you got there at 12:00. If you are one minute late you give up all rights to detention. Arrival is when you check in with shipping/receiving. Not when you pull up to the guard shack.

Start getting in the habit of showing up 1 hour early. Then you leave yourself a cushion.
For the most part if you are on time detention should start after 2 hours. I think I had one job it was 3 hours. It depends on their prior agreement.

If the dispatcher gives you a hard time call straight to payroll and complain you didn't get your detention for such and such a trip. Then they will initiate talking with the dispatcher if he is hiding and avoiding you.

 

This piece of advice could end up jeopardizing the individual truck driver's job. The dispatcher could make that truck driver's job an absolute living hell.

God bless every American and their families! God bless the U.S.A.!

 

Only if you're a problem driver. Not losing your cool and dealing with it in a professional manner - the old saying you catch more flies with honey than you will crap. This is a routine matter part of the job all parties deal with from time to time. Now if you're the guy who complains about everything all the time life is already hell for you they likely will forget to deal with your issue as soon as the phones click.

 

Detention usually needs to be specified in the rate confirmation. If it is not in there you would be wise to ask about detention policy before you ever go to pick up the load or better yet before you sign or accept a load. My experience has been if its not spelled out prior to getting there it is like pulling teeth to get it after the problem arises. The devil is in the details as they say. If it is a new move, a new broker or in other words someone you are not familiar with make sure it is stated in writing somewhere.

 

There's lots of jobs out there so don't worry about pissing off a dispatcher. Getting properly remunerated for the job being done is more important than making friends.

 

I can stop this here. They have a guard shack? Sign in. Get a sign in number from the guard. They have them. I am here. Job sight, call someone. Anyone, ask Name, phone of other contact. Detention happens, but most of the time not needed. I do 4 hours.

 

I have Nintendo & nothing better to do in Monticello Iowa.

 

believe it or not that's what i have read in past driver handbooks

when i asked about the waiting time ? the answer was always, " that is what our contract says with the customers "

like i said READ WHAT THE DRIVER HANDBOOK SAYS given to you in orientation