What is Demurrage? Fuel Delivery Wait Fees
Demurrage is a fee charged when a fuel delivery truck is detained at the delivery site beyond the allotted free time for unloading. Most carriers allow 1-2 hours of free time for the driver to connect hoses, pump fuel, and complete paperwork. Time beyond that is billed as demurrage, typically $50-$150 per hour.
How It Relates to Fuel Delivery
Demurrage exists because a fuel truck waiting at your site is a truck not making other deliveries. Carriers build their routes and schedules around expected delivery times — when a driver is delayed, it cascades through the rest of the day's deliveries. The demurrage fee compensates the carrier for lost productivity and may also cover overtime driver pay.
Common causes of demurrage include: site not ready (gate locked, no one to sign, tank access blocked), slow pump rates due to small fill pipes or long hose runs, waiting for tank gauging or paperwork approvals, equipment failures (stuck valves, broken gauges), and weather delays at the delivery site. Most of these are preventable with proper preparation.
To avoid demurrage, ensure your site is accessible when the delivery is scheduled, have someone available to authorize and sign for the delivery, clear the path from truck access point to the fill port, ensure fill ports are accessible and in working condition, and communicate any site restrictions to BettyJet before delivery.
Why It Matters for BettyJet Customers
Demurrage fees are avoidable. BettyJet coordinates delivery logistics upfront — confirming site access, contact persons, fill port locations, and any restrictions — so drivers can deliver efficiently and you don't pay for wait time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does demurrage cost?
Demurrage typically runs $50-$150 per hour after the carrier's free time allowance (usually 1-2 hours). Exact rates vary by carrier. BettyJet works to prevent demurrage by coordinating site access and delivery logistics in advance.
How can I avoid demurrage charges?
Ensure your site is ready: gate open, fill port accessible, authorized person on-site to sign for delivery. Communicate any access restrictions to BettyJet before delivery. Preparation is the best way to avoid wait-time fees.
Related Terms
ULSD stands for Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel — a cleaner-burning diesel fuel containing no more than 15 parts per million (ppm) of sulfur. Since 2006, the EPA has required all on-road diesel sold in the United States to meet the ULSD standard, replacing Low Sulfur Diesel (LSD) which contained up to 500 ppm of sulfur.
Dyed DieselDyed diesel — also called red diesel or off-road diesel — is standard ULSD fuel that has been dyed red to indicate it is exempt from federal and state road taxes. It is chemically identical to on-road diesel but costs significantly less because the tax (typically $0.40-0.60/gallon) is not applied.
Wet HosingWet hosing is the practice of fueling vehicles or equipment directly from a mobile fuel truck rather than from a stationary storage tank. The fuel truck pulls up to each vehicle and fills it on-site — no bulk tank, no pump, no infrastructure required.
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