ChargeGuard is an automated detention and accessorial charge recovery platform designed specifically for small-to-midsize US trucking carriers. If you're an owner-operator or run a fleet of up to 200 trucks, ChargeGuard turns the timestamped evidence you already have into documented, submission-ready claims—so you can stop relying on dispatchers reconstructing detention from memory after the fact.
Your driver already generates this data every time they check in and check out—it just needs to be captured the moment it happens, not reconstructed from memory afterward. ChargeGuard's driver app captures arrival and departure with a tap, applies the specific free-time and accessorial terms for each load, broker, or shipper, then generates a documented claim or invoice ready for submission. No more manual reconstruction, no more missed charges.
Real screen recordings of ChargeGuard, not mockups -- four short walkthroughs covering the full loop.
The full loop: snap a photo of the rate confirmation (or upload it straight from the office), your driver taps Start and Stop and can snap Lumper receipts or detention evidence right from the app, ChargeGuard calculates what you're owed, and the claim is tracked all the way to paid.
ChargeGuard keeps a separate profile for every broker and shipper, reads a contract's terms straight from a photo, and applies the exact right numbers to every trip -- no generic default.
One text message to get set up, a 6-digit PIN, and then just their own assigned trips -- no rates, no invoice amounts. Tap Start, tap Arrived. That's the whole job.
Every claim you've ever generated, tracked in one list through draft, sent, and paid. Update a status in one click and the dashboard updates instantly.
The driver checks in at the shipper’s dock, the clock starts ticking against the load’s free-time allowance, and every minute past that point is money the carrier is owed. Without precise, real-time documentation of detention time, those minutes slip away uncollected. ChargeGuard ensures that every minute of detention is captured, documented, and billed—so carriers get paid for the time they’re stuck waiting.
Detention refers to the time a driver spends waiting at a shipper or receiver location beyond the agreed-upon free time. This free time is typically defined in the contract between the carrier and the broker or shipper. For example, if a load allows for 2 hours of free time and the driver waits 3 hours, the extra hour is considered detention time. Detention charges are meant to compensate the carrier for the driver's time and the truck's downtime, which could otherwise be used for another load.
A layover occurs when a driver is held overnight or for an extended period awaiting a load, distinct from detention at a single stop. Layover charges compensate the carrier for the driver's time and the truck's downtime during this extended wait. Unlike detention, which is typically charged by the hour, layover charges are often a flat fee for each day or partial day the driver is held. This distinction is important for accurate billing and recovery of accessorial charges.
TONU, or Truck Order Not Used, is a fee charged when a scheduled pickup is cancelled after the truck has already been dispatched. This fee compensates the carrier for the time and resources spent preparing for and traveling to the pickup location. TONU charges are typically outlined in the carrier's contract with the broker or shipper and can vary based on the distance traveled and the time spent en route.
Lumper fees are charges for third-party dock labor used to load or unload a truck. These fees are often overlooked but can add up quickly, especially for carriers who frequently handle freight that requires additional labor. Other accessorial charges include stop-off fees (for additional stops not originally agreed upon) and redelivery fees (for failed delivery attempts). These charges are often owed but rarely tracked systematically, leading to significant revenue leaks for carriers.
From timestamp to invoice, we automate the detention and accessorial charge recovery process.
Your driver taps Start and Stop from their phone the moment they arrive and leave each stop.
The specific free-time and accessorial terms for that load, broker, or shipper are applied -- not a generic default.
Detention and accessorial charges are calculated automatically from the captured timestamps and applicable terms.
A submission-ready claim or invoice is produced, with the evidence attached, ready for you to send.
ChargeGuard delivers a fully documented claim or invoice, with all the supporting evidence attached and the specific broker or shipper's agreed terms clearly cited. You review the claim, confirm the details, and then submit it directly. No more reconstructing detention times from memory or paper logs—everything you need is right there, grounded in the actual terms you agreed to with the broker or shipper.
No enterprise bloat, no hidden fees, no unnecessary complexity
ChargeGuard applies the specific free-time and accessorial terms you actually have with each broker or shipper, not a generic default rule.
Your driver's phone and a photo of the rate confirmation are enough to get started -- no system overhaul, no IT project.
Automates the entire detention and accessorial charge recovery process, so you don’t have to chase claims manually.
When a claim is ready, ChargeGuard prepares the complete documented package for you -- evidence attached, broker's own terms cited. Review it and confirm, and ChargeGuard emails it straight to your own inbox -- no assembling it yourself.
Reports cover a rolling 3-year window, so you can see exactly what's been recovered and what's outstanding without losing older records.
If you cancel, you keep access through the period you already paid for -- never cut off early.
Drivers add ChargeGuard to their home screen straight from their phone's browser and get real push notifications for trip updates -- nothing to download or install.
Rate confirmations, lumper receipts, and detention-evidence photos are automatically scanned for malware the moment they're uploaded -- before anything is stored.
ChargeGuard captures detention and accessorial time from driver/dispatcher-submitted timestamps -- your driver taps Start and Stop in the app at each stop, or a dispatcher enters times by hand -- then applies the specific free-time and accessorial terms that apply to each load. This generates a documented claim or invoice ready for submission.
No. ChargeGuard is designed to work from carrier-uploaded documentation, manual entry, or CSV uploads -- nothing else to install or connect.
ChargeGuard uses timestamped evidence from driver/dispatcher inputs, plus any photos of lumper receipts or detention proof attached at each stop, to create a documented claim. This evidence is applied against the specific terms of each broker or shipper to ensure accuracy and provide a clear basis for claims.
ChargeGuard is specifically designed for small-to-midsize carriers (1-200 trucks), helping them recover detention and accessorial charges they might otherwise miss due to manual tracking challenges. It offers a cost-effective solution tailored to their needs.
ChargeGuard automates the process of capturing and documenting detention/accessorial time, reducing manual effort and increasing accuracy. It applies specific terms to each load and generates submission-ready claims, unlike manual tracking methods that are time-consuming and prone to errors.
Today, ChargeGuard prepares the completed claim package for you (the dispatcher) as soon as it’s ready -- evidence attached, terms cited. You review it and confirm sending, and ChargeGuard emails it straight to your own inbox to forward. Direct-to-broker automated sending is a separate capability in controlled testing, not yet available to every account.
Reports cover a rolling 3-year window, so you can review what’s been recovered and what’s still outstanding well beyond a single year.
If you cancel, you keep access through the period you've already paid for.
For more information, visit our homepage or contact us directly. We’re here to answer any questions you may have about how ChargeGuard can benefit your fleet.
Recover the detention and accessorial charges you're currently missing with ChargeGuard. We onboard new carriers on a rolling basis as capacity opens up.
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