The Impact of Driver Detention
A recent report from the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has highlighted driver detention at customer facilities. ATRI's findings have quantified potential detention and the impact to productivity and compliance. The report also outlines the potential financial repercussions detention takes on fleets, drivers, and the supply chain.
Key Findings from ATRI’s Research on Driver Detention
Extent of Driver Detention: In 2023, drivers reported being detained at customer facilities for more than two hours in 39.3% of all stops. Detention was found to be even more prevalent among women drivers (49.1%), refrigerated trailer drivers (56.2%), and fleets operating in the spot market (42.5%). Depending on the sector, drivers were detained between 117 and 209 hours per year. In total, the time lost to detention in the for-hire trucking sector alone amounted to more than 135 million hours annually.
Financial Impact: Although 94.5% of fleets charged detention fees, less than 50% of those invoices were paid. As a result, the trucking industry incurred a direct loss of $3.6 billion and an additional $11.5 billion in lost productivity due to detention in 2023.
Safety Concerns: The research also uncovered safety trends—detained trucks drove faster. On average, trucks that were detained drove 14.6% faster than those that weren’t, both after leaving the customer facility and on the way to facilities known for detaining drivers. This increased speed can elevate risks on the road and contribute to driver fatigue.
Broader Impacts: Beyond the direct costs and safety concerns, driver detention also leads to inefficiencies in the supply chain, reduced driver pay, and contributes to high driver turnover—factors that further destabilize the trucking industry and increase operational costs.
How LEC, LLC Can Help Manage Detention and Improve Fleet Operations
At LEC, LLC, we understand the operational challenges that driver detention presents to fleets. Prolonged waiting times at customer facilities are more than an inconvenience—they directly affect your bottom line and can pose risks to safety. Our services are designed to help you mitigate these issues through a combination of compliance strategies, technology, and optimized fleet management.
Here’s how LEC, LLC can help:
Compliance Audits and Regulatory Guidance: The ATRI report underscores the importance of maintaining compliance, especially when considering the safety concerns associated with higher truck speeds after detention. LEC, LLC provides comprehensive audits and regulatory guidance to ensure your fleet remains compliant with Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, mitigating the risks associated with detention-related driving behaviors.
Detention Tracking and Reporting Tools: Accurate tracking of detention time is essential for charging customers fairly and minimizing revenue loss. LEC, LLC can help develop processes that help you track detention times and generate reports to ensure you’re capturing the full extent of lost time—and taking steps to recover costs.
Driver Safety Programs: Our customized driver safety programs focus on training your drivers to remain compliant with speed limits and avoid unsafe behaviors, even under the pressure of delayed schedules. These programs can help lower risk and improve safety outcomes for your fleet.
Operational Efficiency Solutions: We offer customized process management policies that help streamline your operations and reduce inefficiencies caused by driver detention. This includes optimizing scheduling and route planning to minimize time spent at facilities known for detention, ensuring that your trucks are on the road, and help reducing overall lost productivity.
Consulting on Industry Best Practices: LEC, LLC can also advise on the best practices for communicating with customers about detention and setting clear terms for detention fees, helping you improve the likelihood of getting paid for the time your drivers spend waiting.
Conclusion
The ATRI’s report on driver detention has made it clear that this issue is more than just an inconvenience—it’s a financial and potential safety concern for the trucking industry. At LEC, LLC, we are committed to helping fleets navigate these challenges by offering tailored solutions that improve compliance, safety, and productivity.
Contact us today to learn how we can support your operations and help mitigate the impact of driver detention.
Source: American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), "The Impact of Truck Driver Detention on Industry Productivity and Safety."