Demurrage & Detention Calculator (2026)
Three charges, three clocks, one invoice. Calculate your exposure on port demurrage, ocean carrier per diem, trucker detention, and chassis per diem using Q1-Q2 2026 published tariff schedules. Includes a pre-pull savings comparison.
Your Shipment
All defaults reflect Q1-Q2 2026 published carrier and terminal tariffs. Override any field to match your actual quote.
6 days of demurrage exposure
4 days of carrier per-diem
1.00 billable hours @ $95/hr
Billed at ~$45/day on PoolOfPools / NACPC / DCLI pools.
Pre-pulling into a nearby yard converts demurrage ($150-$600/day) into a one-time fee. Compare in the output panel.
2026 Cost Breakdown
A $250 pre-pull fee per container converts terminal demurrage and chassis per-diem into a one-time charge. Per-diem and detention still apply on the dray side.
Why D&D Is the Most Hidden Line on an Import P&L
Demurrage, per diem, and detention together routinely add 30-60% on top of a clean drayage move when things go even slightly wrong at the port or the warehouse. A single container that misses an LA/Long Beach 3-day free period and sits another 7 days at the terminal can generate $1,800-$2,500 in port demurrage alone — before any per diem, detention, or chassis fees are added.
The reason this line stays hidden is that the three charges arrive on three different invoices from three different parties, often 30-60 days after the cargo has been delivered and the operations team has moved on. This calculator models all three clocks together so importers can price the exposure before the box even arrives and decide whether to budget a pre-pull, negotiate extended free time, or stage a transload near the port.
Q1-Q2 2026 Port Demurrage Tariff Schedule
Tier 1 = days 1-4 past free time. Tier 2 = days 5-9 past free time. Tier 3 = day 10 and beyond. All figures are per container per day for a 40' high-cube on the blended MTO tariff at the named port.
| Port | Free Days | Tier 1 ($/day) | Tier 2 ($/day) | Tier 3 ($/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles / Long Beach | 3 days | $220 | $380 | $600 |
| New York / New Jersey | 4 days | $245 | $405 | $640 |
| Houston | 4 days | $185 | $315 | $490 |
| Seattle / Tacoma | 4 days | $205 | $350 | $540 |
| Oakland | 4 days | $215 | $370 | $575 |
| Savannah | 5 days | $170 | $295 | $460 |
| Charleston | 5 days | $180 | $305 | $470 |
| Norfolk | 5 days | $175 | $295 | $460 |
Sources: Blended 2026 tariffs from APMT, SSA Marine, Maher Terminals, Yusen Terminals, Georgia Ports Authority, and South Carolina Ports Authority. Verify your specific carrier and terminal combination against your service contract for billing-grade numbers.
How to Reduce D&D Spend by 40-70%
1. Book the dray appointment the moment the box is discharged. Most overruns come from waiting to see the last-free-day before scheduling. Track container ATA via the carrier feed and dispatch the trucker immediately.
2. Use a transload or 3PL warehouse within 15 miles of the port. A near-port transload converts the import box into floor-loaded trailers in a single day, allowing same-day empty return and eliminating most per diem exposure.
3. Pre-pull when the terminal is congested. Converting $220/day demurrage into a $250 pre-pull fee pays back after roughly 1.1 days of exposure — and prevents the much steeper tier 2 and tier 3 charges if delivery slips.
4. Negotiate extended free time into the service contract. 5 to 7 days of demurrage free time, versus the standard 3 to 4, is achievable for high-volume importers during annual carrier negotiations. The savings compound on every problem shipment.
5. Audit every invoice against the FMC required data elements. Under the 2024 FMC Final Rule (46 CFR Part 541), invoices that are late, missing required data, or include charges for days when pickup was impossible can be disputed. Most importers recover 5-15% of their annual D&D spend simply by auditing.
Need to fix this for real?
Our partner 3PL network operates near-port transload and pre-pull yards at every major US port. If you are running 10+ containers/year and seeing D&D consistently on your invoices, we will quote a near-port option for free.
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