TONU (truck ordered not used) is a fee a carrier charges when a truck is booked and dispatched for a load that then cancels or never loads, through no fault of the carrier. It is not set by federal rule. The broker and carrier agree to it in the rate confirmation.
What TONU means
TONU stands for truck ordered not used. It is a charge a carrier requests when a truck was committed to a load and the load did not move. The carrier did the work to get ready, and sometimes drove to the pickup, but earned no freight revenue.
TONU is not a federally regulated fee. It is a contract term. That means the amount, the triggers, and the paperwork all come from what the broker and carrier agreed to before the load was dispatched.
Think of it as a cost of the cancelled commitment. A dispatched truck cannot take other freight while it waits, and the driver may have already burned fuel and hours getting to the shipper. TONU is how the carrier recovers some of that loss.
When TONU applies
The usual trigger is a cancellation after dispatch. The carrier has accepted the load and the truck is moving or committed, then the load is pulled. The key question is who caused it. The party that caused the cancellation owes the fee.
Timing matters. Many agreements tie the fee to when the cancellation happens. A cancellation well before pickup may cost nothing, while a cancellation after the driver arrives usually costs more. Your rate confirmation should say which rule applies.
Common cases where TONU is claimed:
- The shipper cancels after the truck is dispatched.
- The freight is not ready at pickup.
- The facility refuses to load or is closed.
- The appointment is moved after dispatch.
- The load was double booked.
When TONU does not apply
TONU does not cover problems the carrier created. If the driver shows up late, sends the wrong equipment, or does not meet facility requirements, the carrier has no claim.
TONU is also different from detention and layover. Those cover time spent waiting on a load that eventually moves. TONU covers a load that never moves.
How TONU is agreed
The rate confirmation is where TONU is settled. Industry guides say it should be in writing before dispatch, not argued about afterward. A clear TONU clause usually states:
- The amount, or how it is calculated.
- What triggers it, including any timing cutoff before pickup.
- What proof the carrier must submit.
- How long the carrier has to submit the claim.
- When it gets paid.
Amounts vary
Published TONU figures differ by source, equipment type, and broker policy. Some brokers use a flat fee. Others use tiers: nothing if the load cancels before dispatch, a smaller fee after dispatch, and a larger fee if the truck is refused at the dock. Because there is no regulated rate, treat any number you read online as an example, not a rule. Set yours in the rate confirmation.
If you are a broker, remember that you may be able to pass the cost back to the shipper under your own agreement with them. Check that term before you dispatch, not after the cancellation.
Documentation that makes a TONU claim stick
A TONU claim is easier to pay when the proof is clean and arrives fast. Invoice quickly. One collections source advises sending the claim within 7 to 14 days, and says leverage drops after 90 days. Brokers should keep their own record of when the shipper cancelled, so both sides compare the same timeline.
Carriers should collect:
- The signed rate confirmation showing the TONU term.
- Written notice of the cancellation, with the time it was sent.
- Timestamped location data showing the truck was en route or on site.
- Driver notes and photos from the facility, if available.
- The appointment details and any changes.
How to avoid TONU disputes
Most disputes come from vague terms or missing records. Software can help with the paperwork side. Clyde Inbox reads the cancellation email, matches it to the load, and drafts the reply for a person to approve. Clyde Collect builds rate confirmations from the email thread and chases the documents that back up an invoice.
These habits cut disputes down:
Most of this comes down to speed and a shared record. Whoever has the cancellation time, the rate confirmation, and the location proof in one place usually settles fastest.
- Put the TONU term in every rate confirmation, with amount, trigger, and proof required.
- Confirm with the shipper that the freight is ready before you tender the load.
- Tell the carrier about cancellations or time changes the moment you learn of them, in writing.
- Apply the same TONU policy to every carrier.
- Pay or reject a claim quickly, with the reason in writing.