At Port Everglades in 2026, demurrage is what the terminal charges when your import container sits inside the port past its free time, and detention is what the ocean carrier charges when you keep their container and chassis out in the field too long after pickup. Both clocks start fast and add up quickly, so understanding free time and the return process is the difference between a clean import and a four-figure surprise bill.
Free time: the clock you are racing
Free time is the grace period, measured in calendar days, during which your container can sit at the terminal or stay out on the road without extra charge. Once free time expires, demurrage (inside the port) or detention (outside the port) begins accruing per container, per day. At a busy gateway like Port Everglades, free time can evaporate during peak weeks, vessel bunching, or a customs hold.
Demurrage vs. detention: know the difference
Demurrage applies while the loaded container is still inside the terminal past free time. Detention applies after you pull the container out and hold the carrier’s equipment (container and chassis) longer than allowed before returning the empty. They are billed separately and can stack in the same week, which is why importers who track only one often get blindsided by the other. For the PortMiami equivalent, see our 2026 demurrage and detention guide for PortMiami.
What makes the charges spike
- Customs and PGA holds: An exam or FDA/USDA hold freezes the container while free time keeps ticking.
- Chassis and appointment gaps: No chassis or no gate appointment means no pickup, and the clock does not care why.
- Warehouse congestion: If your receiving dock is full, the empty return slips and detention builds.
- Weekend and holiday closures: Free time is usually counted in calendar days, so a long weekend burns the clock without a working day to act.
How Miami importers keep the meter off
The winning play is to have drayage lined up before the vessel arrives. That means pre-clearing customs, confirming chassis, booking the earliest gate appointment, and staging a receiving plan so the empty goes back on time. A pre-pull to a nearby yard can stop demurrage even when your warehouse is not ready. Learn how the gateway operates in our Port Everglades drayage overview, and review the 2026 accessorial charge guide so nothing surprises you on the invoice.
Drayage that beats the clock
Because Go Freight runs its own trucks and chassis in South Florida, we can pre-pull, stage, and return empties on schedule to keep demurrage and detention off your invoice. See our container drayage service for how we structure fast turns at Port Everglades and PortMiami.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between demurrage and detention at Port Everglades?
Demurrage is charged by the terminal when a loaded container sits inside the port past its free time. Detention is charged by the ocean carrier when you hold their container and chassis outside the port too long before returning the empty.
How much free time do I get at Port Everglades?
Free time is set by the ocean carrier and terminal and is typically a handful of calendar days, but it varies by carrier, contract, and season. During congestion or a customs hold, that window can feel much shorter, so confirm your exact free time on each booking.
How can I avoid demurrage and detention?
Pre-clear customs, confirm chassis and a gate appointment before the vessel arrives, and have a receiving plan so empties return on time. A pre-pull to a nearby yard can stop demurrage when your warehouse is not ready.
Facing a tight free-time window at Port Everglades? Get a free freight quote or call (786) 445-0150.