What each charge means
| Charge | What it means | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| TONU | Truck order not used | The load is cancelled after you were dispatched or arrived |
| Detention | Pay for waiting | You wait at the shipper or receiver past the free time |
| Lumper fee | Paying an outside crew to unload | The receiver requires a crew, and someone has to pay it |
These charges, and others such as layover, are often called accessorials.
Get it on the rate confirmation first
An extra charge is much easier to collect if the rate confirmation shows the amount and the trigger before pickup. A promise by phone is hard to enforce. Look for:
- Detention: the free time, the hourly rate, and when the clock starts and stops
- TONU: the amount, and how soon before pickup a cancellation triggers it
- Lumper: who pays, and whether you need approval or a reference number first
If it isn't there, ask them to add it before you sign. See what to check on a rate confirmation.
What to keep as evidence
For detention: arrival and departure times, ideally signed or stamped on the BOL or a check-in sheet. Add timestamped photos or tracking data. Tell the broker in writing as soon as free time runs out, because many require notice.
For TONU: the rate confirmation, the cancellation message with its time, and proof of your location or arrival. Invoice it quickly, while the details are fresh.
For lumpers: the original receipt showing the amount, the date and the load. Some brokers pay the crew directly with a code, so ask first.
How to bill them
Put each charge on its own line, and include the load number and rate confirmation:
| Description | Amount |
|---|---|
| Line haul, load ABC-12345 | $2,400.00 |
| Fuel surcharge | $310.00 |
| Detention at receiver, 3 hours at $75 | $225.00 |
| Lumper, receipt attached | $180.00 |
You may be able to bill both detention and TONU if you arrived, waited and were then cancelled. Check both before you bill. The invoice generator lets you add lines and untick tax for each one.
What's a fair rate?
We didn't find a published Canadian benchmark. US industry guides often quote about US$50 to US$75 an hour for detention after two free hours. For TONU, they quote a minimum of about US$150 to US$250. Use these as starting points for negotiating, not as standards. Your own costs and lanes matter more.
How GST and HST apply in Canada
- Detention. CRA says demurrage payments and penalties aren't subject to GST/HST. These are paid for holding a vehicle during loading or unloading past the scheduled time.
- Loading and unloading. When these are part of your freight service, they're taxed the same way as the freight. A lumper fee you bill as part of the service usually follows the same logic.
- Fuel surcharge. It gets the same rate as the freight, and it's zero-rated when the freight is.
- TONU. CRA's freight guidance doesn't name it. No freight moved, so it may not be a freight service at all. Ask your accountant how to treat it.
Tax can differ line by line, so your invoice should show which lines are taxed. CRA asks for this when an invoice mixes taxable and non-taxable items.
Common reasons these charges get refused
- The rate confirmation doesn't mention the charge.
- You didn't give notice before the detention clock ran.
- The times aren't signed, or the receipt is missing.
- You billed it weeks later, after the load had closed.
Sources
- CRA: GST/HST information for freight carriers, other charges
- FreightWaves: How to read your rate con like a pro
- OTrucking: How to bill accessorial charges
This guide doesn't replace the law or professional advice, and rules change. Check the sources above before you rely on it.