Freight glossaryTruckingFreight Pricing
Layover
Definition
A layover is a charge for a driver and truck held overnight or for a long unplanned stop because a load could not be picked up or delivered as scheduled.
What it means
Union Pacific's truckload schedule applies it "in the event a driver is required to stay overnight due to an excessive wait time which causes the driver to run out of legal operating hours."[1] Heartland Express defines a layover as any unplanned break of more than 6 hours caused by the shipper.[2]
Hours-of-service rules are why a long wait can turn into a layover: a property-carrying driver may drive up to 11 hours but may not drive after the 14th consecutive hour since coming on duty, and then needs 10 consecutive hours off.[3]
Example
A receiver cannot unload a trailer until the next morning. The driver, already near the end of the 14-hour window, has to stop for the night, and the carrier bills a layover on top of the detention for the wait.
Related
Related terms
- DetentionDetention is a charge for holding equipment beyond the free time allowed: in ocean shipping, for keeping the...Glossary
- TONUTONU (truck ordered, not used) is a charge a carrier bills when a truck is dispatched for a load that is...Glossary
- Accessorial ChargeAn accessorial charge is a fee added to the base freight rate for extra services or events, such as...Glossary
Related freight problems
Sources
- Union Pacific, “Accessorial Charges and Payment Terms (truckload),” Carrier accessorial schedule. Accessed September 30, 2026.
- Heartland Express, “SRG "A": Rules and Accessorial Charges,” Carrier rules tariff. Accessed September 30, 2026.
- Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School, “49 CFR § 395.3, Maximum driving time for property-carrying vehicles,” Federal regulation. Accessed September 30, 2026.
General operational information, not legal, customs or regulatory advice. Rules and rates change; confirm current requirements with the agency, carrier or contract that governs your shipment.