Even the most experienced shippers wrestle with detention charges, which are one of the most common penalties in the intermodal supply chain.
When an intermodal facility grounds and stores a container, the facility provides an amount of “free” storage time during which the container must be picked up. This period is called the ‘last free day’ or ‘free time’. If the container is not picked up before the end of this period, typically 24 to 48 hours, the facility will charge the shipper detention.
This sounds simple, but the reality is that understanding exactly when free time ends isn’t easy. Free time and cost vary by facility, and to add to the complexity, standard rail tracing feeds don’t include last free day data.
So how can you remove this blind spot and avoid thousands of dollars in detention charges?
This expensive blind spot can be attributed to a combination of inaccurate ETAs, misaligned reporting practices, and procedural differences throughout the supply chain:
Shippers need a clear, exact timestamp showing when free days expire.
322, Who?
Many shippers don’t realize that last free day and other critical elements can be readily included in their rail tracing. Railroads share this data with Railinc via EDI 322 messages, including:
Pick Up Number generated at the beginning of the container trip, this is the number that the motor carrier uses to gain admission through the gate at the intermodal facility to pick up the container. Without this code you cannot enter the facility.
Estimated Time of Grounding (ETG) generated at the beginning of the container trip, this represents the estimated date and time that the container will be removed from the train. This can be read as Estimated Time of Grounding (ETG) or Estimated Time of Delivery (ETD).
Estimated Time of Notification (ETN) generated at the beginning of the container trip, this represents the estimated date and time that the notification for pick up will be sent. This notification triggers the last free day calculation. Some roads will send both a ‘tactical’ and a ‘locked’ (actual) ETN.
Notice of Last Free Day/Free Time the facility provides free storage until this date, after which detention charges start accumulating.
At the beginning of a shipment, customers can see three of four critical data points: the Pick Up Number, the Estimated time of Grounding, and the Estimated time of Notification. The most detention-deterrent data point, notice of the last free day, doesn’t populate until the container is removed from the train because that’s the official start of the free-storage window. Together, these data points are often referred to as last free day data.
TransmetriQ turns these disjointed data points into a clean timestamp showing the last free day.
Shippers can leverage last free day data to avoid detention charges, reduce driver wait time, and improve understanding of container status. Truckers and shippers alike value prompt retrieval of the container and avoiding unnecessary charges.
In addition to gaining visibility to improve pickups and avoid detention, you can also refute erroneous detention charges with detailed movement event records.
Last free day data positions you with the insights you need to understand shipment status and proactively avoid fees, instead of reacting to unexpected charges and timeline adjustments. Adding this critical information to your rail tracing feed saves time, headaches, and money.
Accessing Pick Up Numbers, last free day, and other EDI 322 information is not easy by design. Railroads strictly protect this sensitive data due to potential security risks.
Like all rail tracing data from Railinc, information gleaned from EDI 322 messages is protected by our Secure Data Access Policy. This policy provides the framework for us to contact the railroads on behalf of the customer for inquiries, and the railroads consider access requests on a case-by-case basis. This data is only visible to those approved by the railroads.
When Do Customers Qualify for this Information?
Typically, customers listed on the waybill as the shipper, consignee, or a notify party, are eligible to receive EDI 322 information. Railroads verify the interested party’s identity and decide whether to provide the data to the customer.
If you're interested in last free day data, reach out to us here: Contact Us