Charges when truck trailers are retained beyond a specified loading and unloading time.

• A. Detention
• B. Demurrage
• C. Dispatching
• D. Distribution

Answer: (A)

Detention charges are fees assessed when a carrier’s trailer is held beyond the allotted loading and unloading time. This time window, often called free time, lets the shipper or consignee load or unload without extra cost. If the trailer stays longer than that window, the carrier incurs costs for tying up the equipment and depriving it of other business, so detention fees are charged to compensate for that delay.

This is distinct from demurrage, which applies to containers held inside a terminal or port beyond the allowed time. Dispatching and distribution refer to different concepts—dispatch relates to getting equipment moving or ready for service, not a charge tied to dwelling time, and distribution is about the broader process of delivering goods rather than a specific penalty.

So, when a truck trailer is retained beyond the loading/unloading window, detention is the appropriate term for the charges.