# TONU (truck ordered not used)

> TONU (truck ordered not used, also "truck order not used") is a fee paid to a carrier when a booked load is canceled after the truck has been committed or dispatched to it.

When a carrier accepts a load, it turns down other freight and often sends the truck toward the pickup. If the shipper then cancels, the freight is not ready, or the load no longer exists when the driver arrives, the carrier has lost the day. A TONU pays part of that cost.

TONU amounts are negotiated, not regulated. Trade sources commonly quote roughly US$150 to 300 for standard dry van equipment, with higher figures for specialized equipment or when the truck has already driven a long way empty. Some contracts set a flat fee; others scale it by the miles the truck ran toward the pickup.

Like every [accessorial charge](https://transportial.com/en-us/glossary/accessorial-charges), a TONU is only collectible if it was agreed in advance. It belongs on the [rate confirmation](https://transportial.com/en-us/glossary/rate-confirmation) or in the broker-carrier agreement, and the carrier should record when the truck was dispatched, when it arrived and when and by whom the load was canceled. Timestamps from the [driver app](https://transportial.com/en-us/product/driver-app) or [vehicle tracking](https://transportial.com/en-us/product/vehicle-tracking) settle most disputes quickly.

## Frequently asked questions

### When does a TONU apply?

When the carrier has committed a truck to a load and it is canceled or cannot be loaded for reasons outside the carrier’s control: the order was canceled after dispatch, the freight was not ready, or the load was given to someone else. The exact trigger (for example, a cancellation cut-off time) should be written in the agreement.

### How much is a typical TONU fee?

There is no standard amount. Commonly quoted figures are around US$150 to 300 for standard equipment, and more for specialized trailers or long empty runs to the pickup. What you can bill is what the rate confirmation or contract says.

### Is a TONU the same as detention or layover?

No. Detention pays for waiting beyond free time on a load that does move, and layover pays for being held overnight. A TONU applies when the load does not move at all after the truck was ordered.


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Canonical page: https://transportial.com/en-us/glossary/tonu