Guides
When waiting time
lands on the bill
A dedicated driver's day is built around your job, so when a vehicle sits idle at a kerb the clock has to count somewhere.
What waiting time actually is
Waiting time covers the periods a driver is held up beyond a reasonable allowance at collection or delivery. Think a load that is not ready, a slow goods-in desk, a security queue at a site, or paperwork that takes far longer than expected.
Most operators build in a sensible free window at each end for normal loading and unloading. Waiting charges only begin once that grace period is used up and the vehicle is genuinely standing still on your time rather than moving towards the next task.
How it is usually charged
Once the allowance is exceeded, waiting is typically measured in blocks of time and tied to the vehicle on the job, since a larger vehicle ties up a bigger asset. A reputable operator tells you the free allowance and the waiting rate when you book, not afterwards.
The principle is simple fairness. A dedicated driver cannot pick up other work while parked outside your warehouse, so the charge reflects time that would otherwise have been earning elsewhere. It is rarely large when sites run smoothly.
Practical ways to avoid it
A little preparation usually keeps waiting time off the invoice entirely. Before the driver arrives, it helps to:
- Have the goods packed, labelled and ready at the door
- Confirm the exact collection and delivery contacts
- Warn of any booking-in system or security check
- Share access notes, gate codes or loading-bay details
When both ends are ready, the vehicle keeps moving and the cost stays on the journey, where it belongs, rather than on the kerb.
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