Your container’s been sitting at the terminal for three days.
No one flagged it. No alert came through.
Now you’re staring at a $2,000 demurrage bill — and that’s just for one shipment.
Detention and demurrage (D&D) fees are the silent profit killers in modern logistics. They sneak up in the chaos: a missed message, a delayed drayage dispatch, an outdated ETA. Before you know it, thousands of dollars have vanished, and no one’s entirely sure who dropped the ball.
These charges are frustrating and systemic. And as global shipping grows more complex, they’re harder to avoid. But here’s the good news: they’re also preventable.
The antidote? Real-time visibility combined with smarter workflows. When you can see the full picture (vessel to terminal to final mile) and act on it instantly, you avoid D&D fees — and you take back control of your supply chain.
Understanding Detention & Demurrage (Without the Jargon)
If you’re in logistics, chances are you’ve battled detention and demurrage (D&D) more times than you care to count. But just so we’re aligned, let’s break it down — minus the jargon:
- Demurrage is what you pay when your container overstays its welcome at the port or terminal before pickup.
- Detention hits when that same container is out past curfew — picked up, but not returned within the allotted timeframe.
In theory, these fees are meant to keep goods moving and equipment circulating. In practice, they often penalize shippers and forwarders for things completely beyond their control: port congestion, trucking delays, miscommunication between partners, or a simple lack of visibility.
The reality is that D&D fees don’t just appear during peak season or because of major disruptions. They’re baked into the daily risk of global logistics. It’s not a question of if they’ll show up — it’s how often, and how expensive they’ll be.
Why Traditional Systems Fail to Prevent D&D Charges
Most logistics teams aren’t short on effort — they’re short on alignment. And when your systems aren’t speaking the same language, things fall through the cracks fast.
Fragmentation is the root of the problem.
Most LSPs use platforms for rates, others for tracking, and maybe a shared inbox or spreadsheet where critical updates tend to disappear. Drayage schedules get buried in emails. Status updates come in late (or not at all). And when something goes wrong, no one’s sure who was supposed to act — or when.
Here are some of the issues contributing to this larger problem:
- Siloed systems mean your rate management tool doesn’t talk to your tracking solution.
- Manual workflows (like emails, phone calls, and chat messages) create lag and confusion.
- No real-time data from carriers, terminals, or ports means you’re always reacting after the fact.
Siloed systems, manual workflows, and a lack of real-time data result in containers sitting idle, deadlines passing, fees accumulating, and your team being forced to firefight instead of orchestrating.
Overall, this problem is both inefficient and expensive.
How Cargologik Stops the Clock on D&D Charges
Solving detention and demurrage isn’t just about knowing where your containers are. It’s also about turning visibility into action.
Designed as an all-in-one platform, Cargologik eliminates the chaos that leads to D&D fees by replacing fragmented systems and manual workflows with automation, real-time data, and coordinated execution.
Here’s how it works:
Real-Time Shipment Visibility
Track every shipment from vessel to terminal with live updates, milestone tracking, and predictive ETAs. Get notified the moment a container is discharged and ready for pickup — before the clock starts ticking.
Automated Free Day Tracking
Know your contractual last free days with both carriers and terminals. Cargologik sends automated reminders so your team never misses a deadline again.
Drayage Coordination & Alerts
Turn milestones into action. When it’s time to dispatch, the platform alerts your team instantly, reducing delays caused by human error or miscommunication.
Historical Data & Optimization
Learn from the past to prevent future mistakes. Use shipment history to spot patterns, identify chronic issues, and take proactive steps to avoid recurring D&D costs.
Collaborative Customer Portal
Keep everyone on the same page. Shippers, partners, and clients can access a shared, branded portal with visibility into shipments, documents, and deadlines — cutting down on email chains and last-minute scrambles.
Don’t Let the Clock Run Out on Your Bottom Line
Detention and demurrage charges are avoidable, but only if you have the right tools in place.
The right tools deliver real-time visibility, help protect your margins, and keep customers happy. The Cargologik platform was designed with these objectives in mind. When you implement it, you get a unified hub that connects your systems, partners, and data into one action-ready dashboard. The results?
- No more missed free days.
- No more finger-pointing when delays happen.
- No more bleeding money from avoidable mistakes.
Ready to stop the clock on D&D charges? Book a demo and see how Cargologik helps you stay ahead of the curve and ahead of the fees.
