What does drop and hook mean?

The driver drops a trailer at a shipper or receiver and hooks another one — often already loaded — instead of waiting while a trailer is loaded or unloaded.

How much does it cost to drop a trailer?

It depends on the tariff. FEMA's 2026 freight tariff gives 24 hours free, then up to USD 120 for each 24 hours; FedEx Freight charges USD 273 per pup for each 24 hours a trailer is held without power.

Who is responsible for a dropped trailer?

The shipper or consignee holding it, under most tariffs, until it is released. FedEx Freight's makes the trailer and its contents the consignee's responsibility once received.

Term

Drop trailer

A drop trailer is a trailer left at a shipper or receiver to be loaded or unloaded without the truck waiting; drop and hook means the driver drops one trailer and hooks another. Tariffs give free time, then charge by the day: FEMA's 2026 freight tariff allows 24 hours, then up to USD 120 a day.

Also called drop and hook, drop-and-hook, drop trailer service, trailer spottingApplies in USUpdated 13 October 2026

Live or drop

	Live load or unload	Drop trailer
Truck and driver	Wait at the dock while the work is done	Leave once the trailer is dropped
Paid waiting	Detention, after free time	A charge per day for the trailer, after free time
Who holds the trailer	The carrier throughout	The shipper or consignee, until it is released

The Federal Highway Administration's glossary defines a drop as an operator depositing a trailer at a facility where it is to be loaded or unloaded. FEMA's freight tariff describes spotting as leaving the trailer in full possession of the consignor or consignee, unattended and with no power unit.

What tariffs charge

FEMA Uniform Rules Tariff, effective 1 July 2026: 24 consecutive hours of free time, then up to USD 120 per closed van, flatbed or step-deck trailer for each 24-hour period or fraction of one.
FedEx Freight rules tariff, 2026: a trailer held without power costs USD 273 per pup for each 24 hours.

Worked example

Spotted Monday 09:00, released Thursday 15:00 = 78 hours · 78 − 24 free = 54 hours = 3 periods (the last a fraction) × USD 120 = USD 360

Under FEMA's 2026 tariff. The clock stops only when the carrier is told the trailer is ready — not when the work is finished.

Why shippers use it

Drivers stop waiting. ATRI found drivers were detained at 39.3% of stops in 2023, and more than two hours at 9.9% of stops; it also found drop-and-hook shipments less susceptible to detention than live loads.

The mistake people make

Forgetting to release the trailer. FEMA's tariff says charges accrue until the carrier receives notification that the trailer is ready, so an emptied trailer nobody reports keeps running up days — and, under FedEx Freight's terms, the trailer and its contents are the consignee's responsibility once received.

FAQ

Drop trailer: common questions

What does drop and hook mean?: The driver drops a trailer at a shipper or receiver and hooks another one — often already loaded — instead of waiting while a trailer is loaded or unloaded.
How much does it cost to drop a trailer?: It depends on the tariff. FEMA's 2026 freight tariff gives 24 hours free, then up to USD 120 for each 24 hours; FedEx Freight charges USD 273 per pup for each 24 hours a trailer is held without power.
Who is responsible for a dropped trailer?: The shipper or consignee holding it, under most tariffs, until it is released. FedEx Freight's makes the trailer and its contents the consignee's responsibility once received.