Dwell Time

Dwell time is the total elapsed time a truck spends at a shipping or receiving facility, measured from the moment the truck arrives at the gate until it departs with a sealed load or an empty trailer. This includes queue time waiting for a dock door, the actual loading or unloading process, paperwork and inspection time, and any other delays that occur at the facility.

Excessive dwell time is one of the most significant operational problems in freight transportation. The national average dwell time at warehouses and distribution centers is approximately 2 to 3 hours, but many facilities regularly keep trucks waiting 4 to 6 hours or longer. For refrigerated shipments, extended dwell time creates additional problems beyond driver productivity, as repeated door openings and dock exposure can compromise temperature control.

The industry-standard free time allowance is typically 2 hours for loading and 2 hours for unloading. Time beyond this free period triggers detention charges, which typically range from $50 to $100 per hour. These charges are intended to compensate the carrier for the lost productivity and driver hours consumed by the delay.

Facilities with reputations for excessive dwell time often face higher freight rates, as carriers build the expected delays into their pricing. Some carriers refuse to service facilities with consistently poor dwell time performance. Shippers who invest in dock efficiency, appointment scheduling, and pre-staged freight see lower rates, better carrier availability, and improved temperature control for their refrigerated shipments.