Layover, TONU (Truck Ordered Not Used), and lumper fees are three distinct accessorial charges in trucking, each triggered by different circumstances and governed by specific terms. These fees are often confused but serve unique purposes in ensuring carriers are compensated for time and services rendered.
Layover fees compensate drivers for extended delays beyond a single stop, typically when a truck is held overnight or for multiple days awaiting a load. Unlike detention fees, which are charged for delays at a specific shipper or receiver location, layover fees apply to the broader delay between loads. These fees are designed to reimburse carriers for the additional costs incurred when a truck is out of service and unable to take on new freight.
TONU fees are charged when a scheduled pickup is canceled after a truck has already been dispatched to the location. This fee compensates the carrier for the time and resources spent preparing for and traveling to the pickup, only to find that the load is no longer available. TONU fees are a critical component of accessorial charge recovery, ensuring that carriers are not left bearing the cost of last-minute cancellations.
Lumper fees cover the cost of third-party dock labor hired to load or unload a truck. These fees are often paid upfront by the carrier and then invoiced back to the shipper or broker to recover the cost. Lumper fees can vary significantly depending on the complexity of the load and the labor rates at the dock, making them an essential consideration in accessorial charge recovery.
Just like detention terms, eligibility and rates for layover, TONU, and lumper fees are typically set per broker or shipper relationship. Applying the correct, specific terms for each customer is critical for these charges too—not just detention. Misidentifying a charge type or applying the wrong rate can mean the difference between getting paid what you're owed and leaving money on the table.
No. Detention is time spent waiting at a single stop beyond the agreed free time. Layover is compensation for a driver held overnight or for an extended period awaiting a load, a distinct situation.
A TONU (Truck Order Not Used) fee is typically charged when a scheduled pickup is cancelled after the truck has already been dispatched toward it.
Practice varies -- often the carrier pays the lumper fee upfront at the dock and then invoices the broker or shipper to recover it, per their specific agreement.
Join the waitlist for ChargeGuard and apply the specific terms you have with each customer -- to detention, layover, TONU, and lumper fees alike.
qiyadon