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Detention is the main accessorial you'll deal with in cross-border. At the border it usually runs per day after a free-time window, and the terms vary by carrier, so agree on them before the load moves.
At the border, the trailer usually does the waiting. On the common drop arrangement it sits at a customs broker's facility while the entry clears (Chapter 8), so border detention is usually a charge for the trailer's time. On a straight-through move the driver waits too, so confirm which arrangement you're paying for.
What triggers it:
How to prevent surprises:
- Agree on free time and the daily rate with the carrier up front, and put both on the rate confirmation
- Confirm the customs broker is ready before dispatch
- Keep an escalation contact list for the shipper and the customs broker
Driver detention at facilities
Mexican facilities have traditionally given more free time before paying driver detention than U.S. facilities do, and that's changing as more of them move toward U.S.-style terms. Don't assume a facility will let a driver sit all day without paying. Agree on the free-time window, the charge and who bills it before booking.
Mexico has its own driving and rest rules for truck drivers (NOM-087). Have the carrier account for them when you set appointments and transit times.
Drop trailers make repeat lanes easier
Carriers strongly prefer drop trailers when they'll be loading at a facility consistently.
If you can negotiate a drop trailer program with your customer, your carriers will love you for it and you'll have better capacity options, especially on repeat lanes. A carrier who can drop and go is a carrier who wants your freight.
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