Demurrage and detention are two different late fees. Demurrage is what the ocean carrier or terminal charges when your loaded container sits inside the port past its free time. Detention is what the carrier charges when you keep the container and chassis outside the port—at your warehouse—longer than allowed. Both clocks start after the free days expire, and in a busy gateway like Miami they add up fast.
What is demurrage?
Demurrage applies while your container is still on terminal property. Once a vessel is discharged, the terminal grants a set number of free days (often 3–5) to pick the box up. Miss that window and demurrage accrues per container, per day, usually on a rising scale. The fee exists to keep containers moving and free up yard space.
The most common causes are customs holds, missing paperwork, unpaid freight, or simply not having a truck scheduled in time. A responsive Miami drayage partner that watches your last-free-day dates is the single best defense. For a deeper walkthrough, see our guide on how to avoid demurrage at PortMiami.
What is detention?
Detention starts once the container leaves the terminal. The carrier gives you free time to unload and return the empty container and its chassis. Keep the equipment past that window and detention charges apply per day. Slow unloading, warehouse congestion, or returning an empty to a terminal that is not accepting it are the usual culprits.
Demurrage vs detention at a glance
The easy way to remember it: demurrage = container still in the port; detention = container out of the port but not yet returned. Some carriers bundle both into a single “per diem” line, but the underlying triggers are distinct, and disputing a charge requires knowing which one you were hit with.
How to reduce both charges in Miami
Prevention beats disputes. Pre-clear customs before the vessel arrives, confirm freight is paid, and schedule pickup for the first available day. An asset-based carrier with its own chassis pool removes the chassis bottleneck that causes many detention charges, and same-day empty returns keep the detention clock short. Go Freight runs 100+ owned trucks and its own chassis pool out of a 104,000 sq ft bonded Miami warehouse, so containers move on day one and empties go back promptly. Understanding what drives drayage cost in Miami also helps you budget accessorials before they hit.
Frequently asked questions
Can demurrage and detention be charged at the same time?
Not on the same container at the same moment. Demurrage stops the day the container leaves the terminal, and detention begins from that point until the empty is returned. You can, however, owe demurrage on one container and detention on another simultaneously.
How many free days do I usually get in Miami?
It varies by carrier and terminal, but 3–5 free days for demurrage and 3–5 for detention are typical. Always confirm the exact numbers on your specific bill of lading, since promotional or contract rates can differ.
Are demurrage and detention fees negotiable?
Sometimes. If the delay was caused by a terminal or carrier issue—an empty return restriction, for example—you can file a dispute with supporting documentation. Success is far more likely when your drayage provider logs timestamps and appointment records.
Move containers before the clock starts
Go Freight tracks your last-free-day dates and dispatches owned trucks the moment your box is available—so you avoid both fees. Get a free drayage quote or call (786) 445-0150 to talk with a Miami dispatcher today.