Freight docking is one of the most critical - yet often overlooked - aspects of logistics efficiency. In the fast-moving world of logistics, time isn’t just money - it’s margin, morale, and the difference between scalable growth and operational chaos. One of the most quietly expensive problems facing freight operators today is detention time: when trucks sit idle at the dock, waiting to be loaded or unloaded, burning time, money, and trust.
At Glocate, we work with warehouse and freight teams who are tired of the chaos and ready for change. They’re asking the right questions: Why are trucks waiting? Where is the breakdown happening? How do we fix it before it costs us another client?
What Are Detention Fees, Really?
Detention fees are charges imposed by carriers when trucks are delayed at a warehouse dock beyond the agreed-upon loading or unloading time. Industry standards usually allow for a 2-hour window. Go beyond that, and you’re paying for every minute your operation is standing still.
But it’s not just about the dollars. These delays create ripple effects:
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Carrier relationships get strained
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Driver morale drops
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Delivery SLAs get broken
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Customer satisfaction suffers
All of this adds up to a huge operational headache, especially for warehouses still relying on outdated systems and manual coordination.
The True Impact of Detention
Recent findings from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) emphasize that detention time - defined as dwell exceeding two hours - is a major safety and efficiency issue for CMV operators. Reducing detention time can significantly lower costs and improve driver well-being.
Additionally, reports from the Transportation Research Board confirm that improved yard and dock management leads to measurable reductions in wait times and stronger supply chain resilience.
Where It All Breaks Down
If your operation is struggling with:
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Unpredictable truck arrival times
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Miscommunication between warehouse staff and drivers
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Idle docks despite trucks waiting outside
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No-shows, reschedules, and congestion at key times
you’re not alone. And chances are, you're missing one critical piece: real-time visibility.
Visibility is the key to avoiding costly accessorial charges like detention. Without it, even the best scheduling intentions fall short.
A Smarter Approach: Real-Time Dock Scheduling
Glocate helps warehouse and freight operations shift from reactive to proactive. Our platform brings:
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Live truck tracking
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Automated truck-to-bay assignments
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Geo-location alerts for warehouse staff
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Digital scheduling with visibility for drivers and carriers
Instead of calling to confirm arrival windows or manually coordinating bay availability, warehouse teams can see exactly when each truck is due, plan accordingly, and make instant adjustments. No more guesswork. No more avoidable delays.
What It Looks Like in Action
Let’s say you’re operating a regional distribution hub. Your loading team works in shifts, and on busy days, trucks are backed up in the yard while half your bays sit idle due to a scheduling mismatch.
With Glocate:
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Your team receives alerts as trucks approach, down to the minute
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Each truck is automatically assigned to the most efficient bay based on real-time dock activity
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If a truck is delayed, the system dynamically reallocates that slot to another vehicle in the queue
The result? No more backlogs. No more chaos. And most importantly, no more expensive detention charges.
Don’t Just Optimize - Collaborate
We don’t believe in pushing tech without listening first. Before deploying any automation, we invite warehouse teams to participate in a one-question poll:
What’s the #1 issue slowing down your truck-to-dock operations?
It’s quick and anonymous, and your insight helps us tailor solutions that address your most pressing operational bottlenecks.
New Rules, More Transparency
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) recently finalized rules that make detention and demurrage fees more transparent and time-sensitive. Carriers and terminal operators must now issue detention invoices within 30 days and include detailed documentation. This empowers warehouses to dispute charges more effectively - but only if they have the right visibility tools in place.
Future-Proofing Your Ops
Detention fees are just a symptom of deeper inefficiencies. If left unaddressed, they can drain your margins and frustrate partners. Smart warehouses aren’t waiting to modernize. They’re:
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Investing in tools that provide real-time insight
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Automating coordination to reduce human error
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Prioritizing data-driven planning to meet the demands of today’s supply chain
And more importantly, they’re doing it with platforms built specifically for freight operations.
Internal Resources at Glocate
If you're interested in learning more about how automation helps solve this challenge, visit our blog for insights on how real-time visibility and automation are transforming freight operations.
It’s Time to Dock Smarter
We know the pain of watching trucks idle and knowing it could have been prevented. That’s why Glocate exists: to give freight and warehouse teams the power to move faster, coordinate better, and save more.
Ready to stop paying for the wait?
Share your insights here by taking our one-question poll.
And if you’re ready to see what smarter docking can do for your team, let’s talk.
Glocate is the only platform focused on optimizing truck-to-bay operations in real time using geo-location automation at the warehouse level. Join the movement to eliminate detention fees and reclaim your schedule.
