The Postal Service monitors demurrage, detention, and storage charges to ensure that loading and unloading procedures keep these charges to a minimum. Demurrage and detention both refer to the delaying of transportation equipment, by shippers or receivers, beyond specified lengths of free loading and unloading time allowed by carriers. Carriers may impose demurrage or detention charges for such delays. They may also impose storage charges when they must hold shipments on their own premises awaiting delivery or redelivery. If a delay is anticipated or temporary storage is required, the original shipping requestor or item manager should be contacted for assistance. All additional charges will be charged to the billing finance number designated in the original request.
