Dray Insight
Check a per diem or demurrage invoice
Federal rules say what a demurrage or detention invoice must contain and when it must arrive. Check both before anyone pays.
Jonathan Sinton · Checked November 14, 2026
You need
- The invoice
- Gate-out and gate-in interchange receipts
- The free time in the contract or tariff
- Proof of anything that stopped you: holds, closed gates, no appointments
Steps
- Check who sent itThe FMC rule covers invoices from ocean carriers, marine terminals and NVOCCs.
- Check the dateIt must be issued within 30 days of the last day the charge built up. Later than that, you do not have to pay.
- Check the contentsBill of lading and container numbers, free time with start and end dates, the days charged, the rate and the rule it comes from, and how to dispute.
- Check the days against your receiptsCount from your own gate-out and gate-in times.
- Dispute in timeYou get at least 30 days from the invoice date to ask for a waiver or refund.
- Pass it through with the papersIf the charge is right and your customer owes it, send the invoice and the receipts together.
The numbers
| Invoice must be issued within | 30 days |
| You may dispute for at least | 30 days |
| Biller should answer within | 30 days |
46 CFR part 541, in force since May 28, 2024. If a required item is missing, the billed party does not have to pay.
Watch out
Paying first and disputing later rarely gets the money back.
Days when the terminal could not take the empty should not be charged. You need proof from that day.