Quick Answer
Inflated detention charges cost an average of $1,500 per trip and more than $50,000 MXN per month in a typical operation: 40% of detention billed does not match actual time at the facility.
To reduce them, implement an appointment system, prior digital documentation, and automatic GPS check-in and check-out. A real case went from $48,000 to $12,000 per month, a 75% savings.
"We spent 4 hours at your plant waiting for unloading." How many times have you heard this? Inflated detention charges represent one of the largest hidden costs in logistics operations. and most operators have no way to verify them.
The Real Cost of Detention
$500-800
MXN/hour average charged
2.5 hrs
average billed detention
$1,500
detention cost per trip
$50K+
typical monthly cost
The real problem: 40% of detention billed does not match actual time at the facility. Without automatic check-in, there is no way to dispute these charges.
The 5 Main Causes of Excessive Detention
Identifying root causes is the first step to reducing detention. According to studies from ANTP and the IMT, most excessive detention can be prevented with proper processes and automated check-in.
For more information about money leaks in logistics, see our complete guide.
No appointment system
35%Units arrive without a defined schedule, creating queues
Incomplete documentation
25%The unit waits while paperwork is resolved
Dock bottlenecks
20%Inefficient layout that causes unnecessary waits
Insufficient staff
15%Too few people to process many units
Other factors
5%Weather, technical problems, etc.
Excessive detention at docks can represent more than $50,000 MXN per month in hidden costs.
7 Strategies to Reduce Detention
These 7 strategies have been tested with multiple logistics operators in Mexico. The implementation combined can cut detention costs by 50-75%.
For more details on money leaks in logistics or auditing freight invoices, see our guides.
Implement Appointment System
MediumAssign specific time windows of 30-60 minutes for each unit. Eliminates the "queue" of waiting trucks.
Impact
Reduces waiting time by 70%
How to Implement
Define time slots, communicate them when assigning, and strictly respect them.
Previous Digital Documentation
EasySend all documents (purchase order, invoice, instructions) before the unit arrives.
Impact
Eliminates 20-30 min per trip
How to Implement
Automate the sending of documents when the assignment is confirmed.
Automatic Arrival Registration
EasyUse geolocation to automatically record when the unit arrives and leaves. No discussions.
Impact
Objective, indisputable evidence
How to Implement
The driver activates location upon arrival, the system automatically records timestamp.
Communication of Delays in Real Time
EasyNotifies the carrier if there is a delay at the plant so that they can adjust their route or times.
Impact
Improves relationship and reduces frustration
How to Implement
Automatic alert when wait time exceeds X minutes.
Optimize the Platform Layout
HighAnalyzes bottlenecks in the unloading area. Sometimes a small change reduces 40% of the time.
Impact
One-time investment, permanent savings
How to Implement
Observe a typical day, identify where units accumulate, reorganize the flow.
Train Your Yard Team
MediumWell-trained staff processes units 50% faster. Efficiency is in the details.
Impact
50% faster processing speed
How to Implement
Training in document management, communication with drivers, and use of tools.
Measure and Compare by Carrier
EasyIdentify which carriers arrive prepared and which always have problems. Reward the good ones.
Impact
Continuous improvement driven by data
How to Implement
Dashboard of average times by carrier, visible monthly ranking.
How OCL Cargo Controls Detention Automatically
OCL Cargo includes automatic arrival and departure registration using geolocation, eliminating discussions about length of stay. The system automatically records when each unit arrives and leaves, providing objective evidence that reduces inflated detention charges by up to 75%.
OCL Cargo Features for Detention Control
Automatic registration and objective evidence that reduces costs up to 75%
GPS Automatic Registration
Automatically records arrival and departure through geolocation. No manual intervention, no discussions.
Automatic Detention Calculation
Calculate actual time at the facility and compare with invoices. Automatically flags inflated detention.
Integrated Appointment System
Assign specific time windows and monitor compliance. Reduce waits up to 70%.
Evidence for Disputes
Timestamps and GPS coordinates as objective evidence. Dispute incorrect detention with verifiable data.
Proven Results
75%
Reduction in stay costs
$50K a $12K
Typical monthly savings
100%
Verifiable evidence
15-day free trial • No implementation cost
Success Story: Dairy Company in Jalisco
"We implement unloading appointments and automatic registration with GPS. In 2 months we reduced our detention costs from $48,000/month to $12,000/month. Best of all: we no longer argue with carriers because we have objective evidence of actual time at the facility."
. Operations Manager, Dairy Company with 120 trips/week
Before
$48,000
per month in detention
After
$12,000
per month in detention
Savings
75%
reduction in costs
Action Plan: This Week
3 Steps to Start Today
Measure current cost
Review last month's invoices. How much are you paying in detention? Can you verify whether charges are legitimate?
Implement arrival registration
Even if it is manual, it begins to record the arrival and departure time of each unit. This will give you data to negotiate.
Appointment pilot
Choose your busiest dock and try defined time slots for 2 weeks. Measure the difference.
Key takeaways5 points
- Inflated detention charges represent one of the largest hidden costs in logistics operations, costing an average of $1,500 per trip.
- 40% of detention billed does not match actual time at the facility, representing losses of $50,000+ per month in typical operations.
- The top 5 causes include lack of appointment system (35%), incomplete documentation (25%), bottlenecks (20%), insufficient staff (15%), and others (5%).
- The 7 strategies include an appointment system, prior digital documentation, automatic registration, communication of delays, layout optimization, training and measurement.
- A real case shows a reduction from $48,000/month to $12,000/month in detention costs (75% savings) with appointments and automatic check-in.
Frequently Asked Questions
A demurrage is the charge charged by a carrier for excessive waiting time at the plant (loading or unloading). Typically charged hourly after some free time (usually 2-4 hours). The average cost is $200-500 MXN/hour, and can reach $1,500-3,000 MXN per event.
A typical operation of 100-200 trips/month loses $30,000-50,000 MXN per month on inflated detention. That is because 40% of detention billed does not match actual time at the facility. With automatic time capture, that figure can drop by 75%.
Implements three controls: 1) Digital registration of arrival and departure time with GPS or check-in on the floor, 2) Cameras or photographic record in the patio, 3) Automatic reconciliation of real times vs. Billed times. A TMS can do this automatically.
You cannot eliminate it 100%, but you can reduce it by up to 75%. The most effective strategies are: appointment scheduling (cuts detention ~35%), prior digital documentation (25%), and automatic time capture (20%). The goal is to pay only for detention that is real and justified.
An appointment system assigns specific time windows for each truck to arrive at the facility. That spreads workload, avoids bottlenecks, and cuts wait time. Companies that implement scheduling report 30-40% less detention in the first month.