How Waiting Time at Shippers Affects Your Real Pay
Detention and dock time can quietly lower a truck driver's hourly earnings. Learn how to measure it and factor it into job comparisons.
Waiting to load or unload is one of the biggest hidden costs in a driver's week. If it isn't paid, it adds hours without adding income.
A quick example
A driver earning $1,700 per week who works 55 hours earns about $30.91 per hour. Add 5 hours of unpaid dock time a week and the same paycheck becomes $28.33 per hour across 60 hours.
Track it for two weeks
- Note arrival and departure times at every shipper and receiver
- Record which hours were paid as detention
- Average it per week and enter it in the calculator
Questions to ask employers
- Is detention paid, and after how many hours?
- Are loads live or drop-and-hook?
- Is the freight dedicated with known facilities and appointment times?
Find your real hourly pay in 60 seconds
Open the calculator