Our average detention pay has always been an amount lower than we think it should be.
In our view, the value of "D-time" is not the money you get for sitting and "doing nothing." We can make more money running on another load, even with the D-time and fuel factored in. The value of D-time is the incentive it provides shippers and receivers (consignees) to get you in and out in a timely fashion. Given a choice, we'd always choose the next run over sitting on the current freight while D-time builds.
For drivers that run with fleet owners, D-time should be addressed in the contract. Does the driver get all D-time money? Is D-time money subject to the same driver/owner split as run money? Is the formula any different if the truck idles instead of just sitting? Is the split for reefer D-time (if you have one) the same as for truck D-time?
D-time is certainly better than nothing. Running a load is better than sitting on one.