*Disclaimer: This policy is effective April 1, 2026. For policy prior to such date, please visit here*

 

Terms and Definitions

Earliest Return Date (ERD) - This represents the first available date to return the container, as provided by the ocean terminals.

Line Earliest Return Date - ONE’s approved earliest return date without incurring demurrage and additional charges. Typically 5 calendar days prior to vessel cutoff date.(Only for Operating Refrigerated Containers)

Demurrage Terminal Guide available here.

Rail Receiving Date (RRD) - This applies to outbound containers requiring rail transport and is the first date the container may be tendered at an inland rail location.

Container Availability Date (CAD) - This is set by the ocean terminal and is the first date a discharged inbound container is available for pickup.

Tariff Rule for Free Time at Origin - US West Coast & US East Coast

Freetime Policy: 

• For shipments carried to and from the U.S.A. under ONE’s tariff terms for demurrage and detention, ONE will only calculate free day usage when the pick-up or return facility(s) gate(s) is/are open for the cargo and equipment pick-up and return.

Demurrage Policy:

Exports

• The demurrage clock commences the day after the cargo has been received at load ports and intermodal locations and ends on the day of the scheduled vessel berthing at the load ports.
• For Dry, Specialty, and Non-Operating Refrigerated Containers, a customer will only be assessed for the demurrage charge at the ocean terminals and the intermodal locations for each calendar day after the expiry of freetime under the following scenarios and when the gated container stay exceeds the agreed free time. 
  • When a customer requests or causes a roll after gating in the container.
  • When a roll is caused by a regulatory reason, including, but not limited to, action caused by or related to the U.S. Customs, Food and Drug Administration, United States Department of Agriculture, or any government or regulatory entity, agency, law, or rule.
  • When the full laden container is received at an ocean terminal prior to the terminal's Earliest Receiving Date (ERD) or at an intermodal location prior to the ONE’s RRD.
     
• For Operating Refrigerated Containers, a customer will only be assessed for the demurrage charge at the ocean terminals for each calendar day the container ingates prior to Line’s ERD and after the expiry of freetime under the following scenarios and when the gated container stay exceeds the agreed free time.
  • When a customer requests or causes a roll after gating in the container.
  • When a roll is caused by a regulatory reason, including, but not limited to, action caused by or related to the U.S. Customs, Food and Drug Administration, United States Department of Agriculture, or any government or regulatory entity, agency, law, or rule.
  • When the full laden container is received at an ocean terminal prior to the Line's Earliest Receiving Date (Line’s ERD).
    • Gate-in prior to the Line’s ERD, even if the terminal is accepting cargo, may lead to additional charges and/or demurrage. Any expenses incurred as a result will be billed to the Merchant’s account.
       
• ONE will not charge the time incurred when the cargo is unable to load a vessel due to overbooked vessels resulting in ONE rolling the booking or if the vessel is canceled/delayed. However, this waiver does not apply if the roll results from customer initiated request or update (e.g., Change of Destination (COD) or booking amendments).
   
• ONE will not charge the time incurred when the container is unable to load a vessel due to a rail or intermodal delay caused by ONE or an ONE-hired vendor resulting in ONE rolling the booking.
    
• Outbound demurrage policy applies equally to merchant and carrier haulage.

Imports

• The demurrage clock commences on the first full day when the container(s) is available for pick-up after vessel discharge.
   
• Demurrage charges are incurred for containers stored on terminals after the end of the freetime period defined by tariff or service contract.
   
• Specifically, for shipments being carried to the U.S.A. under ONE’s tariff terms for demurrage, demurrage charges will be assessed only on days when the pick-up facility gate is open for cargo pick-up for California only. For all other locations, ONE will assess demurrage charges on a calendar day basis once freetime has expired.
   
• A customer will be assessed for the demurrage charge at the ocean terminals and container yards when the delay is caused by a regulatory reason, including, but not limited to, action caused by or related to the U.S. Customs &  Border Protection, Food and Drug Administration, United States Department of Agriculture, or any government or regulatory entity, agency, law, or rule.
   
• Inbound demurrage policy applies equally to merchant and carrier haulage.

Detention Policy:

Exports

• Detention clock commences upon empty container outgate.
   
• Detention charges are incurred for containers held after the end of freetime period defined by tariff or service contract.
   
• Specifically for the shipments being carried from the U.S.A. under ONE’s tariff terms for detention, detention charges will be assessed only on days when the return facility gate is open for the laden container gate-in for California only. For
  all other locations, ONE will assess detention charges on a calendar basis once free time has expired.
   
• Extended-period detention due to changes in the ocean terminal ERD or ONE's RRD after the empty container outgate will not be charged.
   
• Outbound detention policy applies equally to merchant and carrier haulage.

Imports

• Detention clock commences upon laden container outgate at ocean terminals or intermodal locations.
   
• Detention charges are incurred for containers held outside freetime period defined by tariff or service contract.
   
• Specifically, for the shipments being carried to the U.S.A. under ONE’s tariff terms for detention, detention charges will be assessed only on days when the return facility gate is open for empty returns for California only. For all other locations, ONE will assess detention charges on a calendar day basis once freetime has expired. 
   
• When a container yard (CY) delivery container is undergoing customs examination outside of ocean terminals or intermodal locations, it shall not be subject to detention per diem charges during the examination period. The detention per diem charge shall start immediately after the container is gated out from the customs examination facility.
   
• Inbound detention policy applies equally to merchant and carrier haulage.

 

*Disclaimer: This policy is effective April 1, 2026. For policy prior to such date, please visit here*

*Disclaimer: This policy is effective November 3, 2025. For policy prior to such date, please visit here*

Billing Rules

The following table outlines the  default payer for equipment demurrage and detention.*
 

*ONE will review exception requests on a case-by-case basis.

Demurrage

• Import container yard (CY) charges and door moves are invoiced to the US customer of record (consignee on US Imports).
   
• Charges for export container yard (CY) and door moves are invoiced to the contract party.

Detention

• Import container yard (CY) charges and door moves are invoiced to the US customer of record (consignee on US Imports).
• Charges for export container yard (CY) and door moves are invoiced to the contract party.
  
  *Disclaimer: This policy is effective November 3, 2025. For policy prior to such date, please visit here*

*Disclaimer: This policy is effective April 1, 2026. For policy prior to such date, please visit here*

Invoice Information

The following examples are intended to clarify changes to ONE’s detention and demurrage billing practices. The invoices provided are for informational purposes only, and actual invoice terms may vary.

DTIC - Import Detention Invoice:

 

Field Information

1. Container Availability: Date the terminal advises the container is available for pickup
2. Staying Period: Date range from Container Outgate Date through Empty Container Return Date.
3. F/TIME: Non-billable days between Container Outgate Date and Last Free Day Date
4. Free Day: Number of Non-billable days
5. Rate per Day: Daily billable charge
6. Over Day: Number of billable days
7. Rate rule: Identifies the applicable freetime and/or rate rule.
8. QR Code: Scan the QR Code using the photo app on a cell phone to be directed to ONE’s Demurrage & Detention webpage

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DMIF Import Demurrage Invoice:

 

Field Information

1. Container Availability: Date the terminal advises the container is available for pickup
2. Staying Period: Date range from Container Availability Date through Container Outgate Date
3. F/TIME: Non-billable days between Container Availability Date and Last Free Day Date
4. Free Day: Number of Non-billable days
5. Rate per Day: Daily billable charge
6. Over Day: Number of billable days
7. Rate rule: Identifies the applicable freetime and/or rate rule.
8. QR Code: Scan the QR Code using the photo app on a cell phone to be directed to ONE’s Demurrage & Detention webpage

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DTOC Export Detention Invoice:

Field Information

1. ERD: Early Return Date - the first day a laden export container may ingate (ocean terminal)
   1. For Dry, Speciality and Non-Operating Refrigerated Containers, Early Return Date - the first day a laden export container may ingate (ocean terminal).
   2. For Operating Refrigerated Containers, Early Return Date - refers to Line’s ERD, where container can be in-gated without additional demurrage and/or additional costs.
2. RRD: Rail Return Date - the first day a laden export container may ingate (rail terminal)
3. Staying Period: Date range from Empty Container Outgate Date through Full Container Ingate Date
4. F/TIME: Non-billable days between Empty Container Outgate Date and Last Free Day Date
5. Free day: Number of Non-billable days
6. Rate per Day: Daily billable charge
7. Over Day: Number of billable days
8. Rate rule: Identifies the applicable freetime and/or rate rule
9. ERD/RRD Definitions: Explains ONEs definitions of these 2 acronyms.
10. QR Code: Scan the QR Code using the photo app on a cell phone to be directed to ONE’s Demurrage & Detention webpage

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DMOF Export Demurrage Invoice:

Field Information

1. ERD: Early Return Date - the first day a laden export container may ingate (ocean terminal)
   1. For Dry, Speciality and Non-Operating Refrigerated Containers, Early Return Date - the first day a laden export container may in-gate (ocean terminal).
   2. For Operating Refrigerated Containers, Early Return Date - refers to Line’s ERD, where container can be in-gated without additional demurrage and/or additional costs.
2. RRD: Rail Return Date - the first day a laden export container may ingate (rail terminal)
3. Staying Period: Date range from Ocean Terminal Interchange Date through Vessel Load Date
4. F/TIME: Non-billable days between Ocean Terminal Interchange Date and Last Free Day Date
5. Free day: Number of Non-billable days
6. Rate per Day: Daily billable charge
7. Over Day: Number of billable days
8. Rate rule: Identifies the applicable freetime and/or rate rule
9. ERD/RRD Definitions: Explains ONEs definitions of these 2 acronyms.
10. QR Code: Scan the QR Code using the photo app on a cell phone to be directed to ONE’s Demurrage & Detention webpage

 

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CTIC Import Combined Detention Invoice:

Field Information

1. Container Availability: Date the terminal advises the container is available for pickup
2. Staying Period: Date range from Container Availability Date through Empty Container Return Date
3. F/TIME: Non-billable days between Container Availability Date and Last Free Day Date
4. Free day: Number of Non-billable days
5. Rate per Day: Daily billable charge
6. Over Day: Number of billable days
7. Rate rule: Identifies the applicable freetime and/or rate rule
8. QR Code: Scan the QR Code using the photo app on a cell phone to be directed to ONE’s Demurrage & Detention webpage

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Sample Rider Documentation:

Field Information for RIDER

1. CNTR No.: Container Number
2. Date: List of all dates between Staying Period From Date and Staying Period To Date
3. Day: Day of the week
4. Detail: Identifies if a specified date is billable or non-billable
5. Amount: Daily billable rate
6. Cur: Currency for the billable charges
7. Tier: Identifies the charge Tier

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   *Disclaimer: This policy is effective April 1, 2026. For policy prior to such date, please visit here*

*Disclaimer: This policy is effective November 3, 2025. For policy prior to such date, please visit here*

Inquiries and Disputes 

Please direct demurrage and detention billing inquiries and invoice disputes to the following:
Inquiries - [email protected]

Inquiries may include: 

• Request for a statement
• Invoice copy request
• Cash application inquiries 
• Any non-dispute billing question

If you do wish to dispute a Demurrage or Detention invoice, you may do so by accessing the Demurrage & Detention Dispute Form which can be found at the bottom of the following webpage: ONE North America Demurrage and Detention Invoice Disputes

*Disclaimer: This policy is effective November 3, 2025. For policy prior to such date, please visit here*