Live Load / Live Unload

Live loading and live unloading mean the driver remains with the trailer at the facility dock while freight is physically loaded on or taken off. The driver arrives, backs into a dock door, waits for the loading or unloading crew to finish, and then departs. It's the default execution method when drop trailer programs aren't in place – and it's where detention charges are born.

Most carrier contracts include a free time window – typically two hours – during which the driver waits at no additional charge. After that, detention fees kick in, usually billed in 15-minute or 30-minute increments at rates ranging from $25 to $100+ per hour depending on the carrier and lane. For shippers processing many live loads daily, detention charges add up fast and are a frequent source of billing disputes.

The root cause of excessive live load detention is almost always dock scheduling: too many trucks arriving at the same time, loading crews stretched thin, or inbound trucks arriving without appointments. When a facility lacks visibility into how many drivers are waiting versus how many dock doors are available, bottlenecks form and detention accrues. Late-arriving trucks bump later appointments, creating a cascade that can extend detention across multiple loads.

Minimizing live load detention requires tight dock scheduling – enforced appointment windows, real-time capacity visibility, buffer times between appointments, and proactive notifications when trucks check in early or late. Shippers who manage dock operations well can keep average dwell times under two hours consistently and avoid the majority of detention charges.