Demurrage & detention fees: the hidden cost killing carrier margins

Two fees, one squeeze

Demurrage is charged when a container sits at the terminal beyond its free time. Detention is charged when the container — or the chassis — stays out with the carrier too long. Either way, the clock runs against you, and the daily rate climbs fast.

Why carriers absorb it

Most demurrage and detention is not caused by negligence. It is caused by missing information: a terminal appointment that could not be booked, an empty with nowhere to go, a mission that sat unassigned because no one knew a closer carrier was free.

How visibility fixes it

PortChief surfaces the deadline on every mission and alerts you before free time expires. When a box is at risk, the platform looks for a closer carrier who can complete the move in time — turning a looming fee into a swap. Knowing the clock is the first step to beating it.