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Truck ordered not used (TONU)
A TONU — truck ordered not used — is a charge a carrier makes when it sends a truck for a pickup and the load is cancelled or not there, through no fault of the carrier. No regulation sets the amount; each tariff does. Old Dominion's is USD 145, more if its trailer has been left on site.
When it applies
Old Dominion's rules tariff applies its charge when it is asked to pick up a shipment of 10,000 lb or more, or one moving at truckload, volume, capacity-load or exclusive-use rates, dispatches a vehicle, and through no fault of its own the vehicle is not used. The idea is the same everywhere: the carrier gave up other work to send the truck.
Published charges
| Tariff | Charge | Effective |
|---|---|---|
| Old Dominion, Item 985 | USD 145; if its trailer was spotted, USD 145 plus USD 30 for each 24 hours or fraction, minimum USD 235 | 14 April 2025 |
| FedEx Freight, no shipment tendered | USD 97 per occurrence | 2026 rules tariff |
| FEMA, a truck cancelled after arriving | USD 260 for each truck not used | 1 July 2026 |
Worked example
Old Dominion trailer spotted 30 hours, then cancelled: USD 145 + 2 periods × USD 30 = USD 205 → below the minimum, so USD 235The 30 hours make two 24-hour periods, the second a fraction. The trailer charge runs from spotting until the shipper says the vehicle will not be used.
TONU, detention and layover
The three are different waits. A TONU pays for a truck sent for nothing; detention pays for a truck kept waiting beyond its free time while it is loaded or unloaded; layover pays for a truck held over to the next day. One trip can incur only the charge that matches what happened.
The mistake people make
Cancelling by silence. Under Old Dominion's tariff the spotted-trailer charge keeps accruing until the shipper tells the carrier the vehicle will not be used, so a late, unannounced cancellation costs more than a prompt call.
FAQ
Truck ordered not used (TONU): common questions
- What does TONU mean in trucking?
- Truck ordered not used: a charge for a truck the carrier dispatched to a pickup that was then cancelled or had no load ready, through no fault of the carrier.
- How much is a TONU fee?
- Each tariff sets its own. Old Dominion's is USD 145, or more with a spotted trailer (minimum USD 235); FedEx Freight charges USD 97 when no shipment is tendered; FEMA's 2026 tariff pays USD 260 a truck.
- Who pays a TONU?
- The party that ordered the truck and did not use it — usually the shipper, or the broker that booked the load, depending on the contract.