A charge levied when intermodal equipment such as chassis or containers is held beyond the allowed free time at a shipper or consignee's facility. Detention applies specifically to intermodal assets at non-railroad locations, differentiating it from demurrage. Both charges encourage efficient equipment utilization.
A charge assessed by a railroad against a shipper or consignee for detaining a railcar beyond the allowed free time at a loading or unloading facility. Demurrage incentivizes rapid car turnover and compensates the railroad for lost car utility. It is distinct from detention, which applies to equipment held at non-railroad locations.
The period allowed by the railroad during which a shipper or consignee may load or unload a car without incurring demurrage charges. Free time allowances vary by commodity, car type, and tariff. Once free time expires, demurrage begins to accrue at the published daily rate.
A wheeled undercarriage or trailer frame designed to carry an intermodal container over the road. Chassis are lifted onto or off of the container and are a critical piece of drayage equipment. Detention charges apply when chassis are held beyond the allowed free time at a shipper's facility.
A standardized steel box (typically 20, 40, 45, 48, or 53 feet in length) that can be transferred between ships, trains, and trucks without unloading the contents. Containers conform to ISO or domestic standards and are the fundamental unit of intermodal logistics. Their standardization revolutionized global freight economics.