What is layover pay in trucking?

Layover pay compensates a truck driver for time spent waiting between loads or during forced delays that keep the driver idle overnight or for extended periods. It applies when a shipper or receiver delay forces the driver to wait at or near a facility instead of moving to the next load. Layover is different from detention — detention is waiting at the dock during loading or unloading, while layover is waiting between appointments or between loads.

How much is layover pay per day?

Layover pay typically ranges from $50 to $200 per day, with $100 to $150 being the most common range for OTR drivers. Company drivers and owner-operators may see different rates. Some carriers pay a flat daily rate, while others calculate layover based on a percentage of the per-mile rate or a minimum daily guarantee. The exact amount depends on your carrier agreement and whether layover was negotiated into the rate confirmation.

When does layover start?

Layover typically starts when the driver has completed delivery or is waiting for a pickup appointment and is forced to remain idle for an extended period — usually 12 to 24 hours or more. The exact trigger depends on company policy or rate confirmation terms. Most carriers define layover as beginning after the driver has been idle for a set number of hours beyond normal detention. Some carriers require overnight idle time before layover kicks in.

Is layover pay required by law?

No federal law requires carriers or brokers to pay layover. Layover pay is a contractual matter — it depends on what is in your employment agreement, carrier handbook, or rate confirmation. Some states have specific regulations around driver compensation that may affect layover pay for company drivers, but for owner-operators and carrier-broker relationships, it is entirely negotiated. This is why getting layover terms in writing before you accept a load is critical.

What is the difference between layover pay and detention pay?

Detention pay covers waiting time at a facility during loading or unloading — typically calculated in hours beyond a 2-hour free time window. Layover pay covers extended idle time between loads or appointments — typically calculated in full or half days. Detention happens at the dock. Layover happens when you are stuck in a parking lot, truck stop, or nearby location waiting for the next load or appointment. Both are forms of accessorial compensation, and both are commonly left on the table by carriers who do not file claims.

Layover pay for truckers: what you are owed and how to collect

You delivered a load on Monday afternoon. Your next pickup is not until Wednesday morning. You are stuck at a truck stop for 36 hours, burning money on food and parking while making nothing. That idle time is a layover. And in most cases, someone should be paying you for it.

Last updated: April 2026 · Bastion Recovery Research Team

What is layover pay?

Layover pay compensates truck drivers for forced idle time between loads. It covers situations where the driver cannot move to the next load because of shipper delays, dock closures, scheduling gaps, or appointment windows that do not align.

Layover is different from detention. Detention is waiting at the dock during loading or unloading — measured in hours. Layover is being stuck between loads or appointments — measured in half days or full days. Both cost you money. Both are recoverable if your paperwork is right.

For owner-operators, layover means a truck sitting idle and generating zero revenue while fixed costs — insurance, truck payment, permits — keep ticking. For company drivers, layover means lost miles and lower paychecks. Either way, it is money out of your pocket.

When does layover apply?

Layover applies when a driver is forced to wait an extended period — typically 12 hours or more — due to circumstances outside their control. Common triggers:

Shipper delays. The shipper's freight is not ready on the scheduled day. You arrived on time, but the load will not be ready until tomorrow. That overnight wait is a layover.

Dock closures. The receiver closes for the weekend, holidays, or maintenance. You delivered a partial load Friday afternoon and cannot complete until Monday morning. Two days of layover.

Appointment gaps. The broker booked a delivery appointment 36 hours after your pickup. You had no choice but to sit and wait. That gap between pickup and delivery is layover time.

Multi-stop delays. On multi-stop loads, a delay at one stop pushes back the schedule for subsequent stops. The idle time between stops qualifies as layover if it exceeds the normal transit window.

Typical layover rates

Layover pay in the trucking industry typically ranges from $50 to $200 per day. The most common range for OTR carriers is $100 to $150 per day. Some carriers and brokers pay a half-day rate for layovers under 12 hours and a full-day rate for 12 hours or more.

Owner-operators generally negotiate higher layover rates because their fixed costs are higher. A truck payment, insurance, and permits do not stop when the truck is parked. Company drivers rely on their carrier's layover policy, which is usually outlined in the driver handbook or employment agreement.

For context: a truck sitting idle costs the owner-operator an estimated $200 to $400 per day in fixed expenses alone, according to ATRI's 2024 operational cost data. A $100 layover payment does not cover the full cost — but recovering it is better than recovering nothing.

How to negotiate layover into your rate confirmation

The best time to negotiate layover is before you accept the load. Once you are dispatched and sitting at a truck stop, your negotiating power drops to near zero.

Add layover language to your rate confirmation template: "In the event the driver is required to wait more than 12 hours between pickup and delivery or between stops, a layover fee of $[amount] per day will apply." Keep it specific. Vague language like "reasonable layover compensation" gives brokers room to pay nothing.

For loads going to facilities with known scheduling issues — weekend closures, limited dock hours, long appointment windows — ask the broker directly: "What is the layover policy if the receiver cannot take delivery on the scheduled day?" Get the answer in writing before you accept.

Track which brokers and facilities cause the most layover. Over time, this data lets you either avoid those loads, negotiate higher layover rates, or factor the likely layover cost into your all-in rate.

Filing layover claims

Document the idle time. Your ELD data showing no movement over an extended period is your primary evidence. Supplement with facility appointment confirmations, broker communications about schedule changes, and any written acknowledgment of the delay.

File the layover claim with your broker within the timeframe specified in the rate confirmation — typically 7 to 30 days after the event. Include the rate confirmation (showing layover terms), ELD logs showing idle time, and any communications about the delay.

Follow up at 7 and 14 days if unpaid. Layover claims are often deprioritized by broker accounting departments because the amounts are smaller than linehaul invoices. Persistent follow-up is the difference between getting paid and getting ignored.

How Bastion recovers layover pay

Bastion detects layover events from your ELD data — extended idle periods between loads or at facilities with known delay patterns. When we identify a layover event, we cross-reference it against your rate confirmation for layover terms and file the claim automatically.

No manual data entry. No chasing brokers. No missed deadlines. Bastion handles the filing, follow-up, and collection. You focus on driving.

Like all Bastion recovery services, layover recovery is commission-only. You pay nothing unless we recover money for you. No subscription, no contract, no risk.