Demurrage
A daily charge for leaving a container at the terminal past its free time.
What is Demurrage?
Demurrage is the daily fee an ocean carrier or terminal charges when a loaded container stays at the terminal or rail ramp beyond its allowed free time. On imports it starts after the last free day and runs until the container leaves the terminal. Rates usually step up the longer the container sits, which is why a few days of port congestion, a customs hold, or a missed drayage appointment can add hundreds of dollars per container to landed cost.
How Endless handles it
Endless rolls freight and port charges into landed cost per SKU, so demurrage shows up in product margin instead of disappearing into a general freight account.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between demurrage and detention?
Demurrage covers time the container spends inside the terminal past free time. Detention covers time the container spends outside the terminal, at the importer’s warehouse or on a chassis, past the free days allowed before it must be returned.
Can demurrage be disputed?
Yes. Charges caused by terminal closures, carrier delays, or missing availability can often be disputed, and U.S. rules require ocean carriers and terminals to include specific details on demurrage and detention invoices. Disputes need terminal gate times and availability records as evidence.
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