Where this applies
General ocean import planning with U.S. regulatory context where noted. This guide does not determine customs duties, legal liability, free time or a right to withhold payment.
Gather first
- Booking and quote, named ports, routing and service scope
- Container type or LCL dimensions and chargeable measure
- Free-time terms, last-free-day records, terminal availability and inland appointments
A repeatable method
Locate every boundary
Mark who pays each origin and destination movement under the actual sale and transport contracts. Confirm whether the quote is port-to-port or includes inland service, customs work and destination handling. List exclusions rather than treating them as zero.
Separate schedule from availability
A vessel arrival does not mean the container is ready for pickup. Track discharge, release, terminal availability, holds and appointment access. Identify who monitors each event and who can act when a release is missing.
Model time charges using actual terms
Record the event that starts the clock, free time, day-counting convention, tiered rates and stop event. Demurrage and detention terminology can differ by contract and location. Do not assume all weekends or holidays are treated the same way.
Investigate invoices with current authority
Use container-level timestamps and the applicable tariff or contract. The FMC’s November 2025 notice explains a court change to one billing provision; older summaries can therefore misstate who may be invoiced. Seek current, qualified guidance before making a legal or payment decision.
A time buffer can change the comparison
Assumptions: Illustrative USD container movement. Base quote $2,400; origin charges $350; destination handling $450; inland delivery $600. Assume exactly two chargeable days at a flat $150 per day after all free time. Duties, taxes and insurance excluded.
- Base delivered transport estimate = $2,400 + $350 + $450 + $600 = $3,800.
- Time-charge scenario = 2 × $150 = $300.
- Scenario total = $4,100; a zero-charge scenario remains $3,800.
What this means: This is a scenario, not a statement of actual free time or a valid invoice. A tiered tariff, release delay, extra chassis day or missed inland appointment requires a different calculation. Keep the uncertainty visible instead of adding an unexplained contingency.
Common mistakes
- Do not interpret “all-in” without a written list of included legs and fees.
- Do not reuse a historical regulatory summary as the sole basis for a billing dispute.
Questions worth asking
Is LCL always cheaper than FCL for small cargo?
No. Compare chargeable measure, minimums, consolidation handling, destination fees and timing for the actual cargo.
Can a guide tell me my last free day?
No. Confirm the applicable event records and current terms with the responsible terminal or carrier and retain the evidence.
Sources, dates and limits
The linked primary sources support the specific concepts described below. The examples and decision checklists are original illustrative analysis, not figures supplied or endorsed by these organizations. A check date is not a claim that a rule, price or contract will remain unchanged.
- FMC: Court Decision on Demurrage and Detention Billing Practices
Published 2025-11-20 · Checked 2026-11-05
Explains the court setting aside section 541.4 while other provisions remained in effect. Not a legal determination about your invoice; check subsequent developments.
Use the current source, your actual shipment documents and qualified advice where needed. This guide does not book freight, settle a dispute or determine a legal obligation.