Glossary · Trucking Operations
Layover.
Compensation paid when a driver is required to wait overnight or longer at a pickup/delivery beyond normal turnaround time; typically $100–$250/day.
What it is
Layover is compensation for a driver forced to wait overnight or longer because of a delayed pickup, a delayed delivery appointment, or shipper schedule slippage. Typical range is $100–$250 per layover day, depending on the broker and the lane.
Layover is distinct from detention (hourly, same-day waiting) and TONU (load cancelled before pickup). It specifically covers the case where the load eventually moves, but the driver has to sit somewhere — a truck stop, a yard, a hotel lot — until the freight is available or the appointment opens.
Documentation matters. The carrier needs a timestamp for when the layover began, when freight finally became available, and the total layover hours or days. Broker contracts vary widely: some honor layover automatically when the rate-con timestamps clearly indicate one, others require a per-event negotiation and a separate claim. Most brokers require the layover claim to be filed within 7 days of the event — past that window, the claim is typically denied.
Why it matters for trucking finance
A 2-day layover on a Friday-evening drop with a Monday-morning reload can wipe out the entire profit on a lane unless layover is collected. Layover happens disproportionately in produce, refrigerated, and JIT manufacturing lanes — shippers with tight appointment windows and limited dock capacity.
Brokers who reliably pay layover are worth keeping in the rotation. Brokers who refuse layover or slow-pay on documented claims are a signal to reduce concentration. On the factoring side, layover charges are billable like any other accessorial when the broker confirms in writing on a revised rate confirmation or email.
Related terms
- Detention Pay — Compensation paid to a carrier when loading or unloading takes longer than the contractually free time (typically 2 hours).
- Truck Order Not Used (TONU) — Compensation paid to a carrier when a load is cancelled after the truck is dispatched but before pickup; partial payment for the trip.
- Accessorial Charges — Additional fees on a freight bill beyond the base line-haul rate — detention, lumper, layover, fuel surcharge, tolls, etc.
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