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Forklift inside a trailer at a loading dock — TONU truck ordered not used claim documentation
Owner-Operator Guide

TONU Truck Ordered Not Used: How an Owner-Operator Gets Paid in 2026

TONU (truck ordered not used): cómo cobrarlo siendo owner-operator en 2026

Por Sultan Freight Editorial6 min de lectura

By Sultan Freight Editorial · October 7, 2026 · 6 min read

TONU — truck ordered not used — is the fee a broker or shipper owes an owner-operator when a load is booked, the truck is committed, and the freight is canceled or never shows. If you run Newark, Elizabeth or the NJ/NY corridor, it is the line item that separates a lost morning from a paid one. This guide covers when TONU applies, what 2026 fees look like, and exactly how to claim it.

What TONU means and when it applies

TONU is owed when you accepted a rate confirmation and the load was canceled through no fault of yours — especially after you dispatched or arrived at the pickup. It does not apply if you no-showed or broke down, and the claim is much weaker when nothing about it is in writing. That is why TONU belongs on the rate confirmation before you roll, the same way we recommend for detention pay.

Typical TONU fees in 2026

There is no federal TONU schedule: the amount is whatever your rate confirmation or broker-carrier agreement says. Industry guides publish these typical ranges for 2026; treat them as a starting point for negotiation, not a guarantee:

EquipmentTypical TONU range
Dry van$150–$300
Reefer$200–$400
Flatbed$200–$500
Hotshot / power-only$100–$250
Specialized / heavy$400–$1,000+

Deadhead miles you already drove are often billed on top, commonly in the $1.50–$2.50 per mile range. Sources: industry TONU guides for 2026; always confirm against your own contract.

If it is not on the rate confirmation, you are negotiating after the fact. Put the TONU amount in writing before you move.

How to claim a TONU fee step by step

  1. Get the cancellation in writing. Email or load-board message with the time and who canceled.
  2. Save the rate confirmation PDF with its timestamp and your dispatch time.
  3. Document deadhead and arrival. ELD or GPS miles, plus a geotagged photo or check-in if you reached the shipper.
  4. Invoice immediately with the load number and a separate TONU line.
  5. Follow up at 48 hours and again at day 7 — keep a log of every message.

Protect yourself before the next load

  • Ask for the TONU amount and the cancellation window (for example, "canceled less than 2 hours before pickup") on the rate confirmation.
  • Compare linehaul vs. all-in rate so you know what the fee is really protecting.
  • Vet the broker and check payment history before accepting loads from a new name.
  • Build the cost of a lost day into your minimum rate. If you want a second set of eyes on a load, request a quote or rate check from Sultan Freight.

A worked example on a Newark pickup (illustrative)

Say you accept a dry van load out of Newark at 6:00 a.m., deadhead 38 miles from your yard, and at 7:15 the broker cancels because the shipper pushed the order. With a $200 TONU on the rate confirmation and 38 deadhead miles at $1.75, your claim is $200 plus $66.50 — $266.50 you can invoice that same morning. Without the TONU line, you are asking for a favor instead of billing an accessorial. The numbers are an example only; use the amounts in your own agreement.

When TONU does not apply

  • You no-showed, arrived after the appointment window, or the truck failed inspection.
  • The cancellation was your decision, or you rejected the load after accepting it.
  • The rate confirmation says TONU is excluded or the broker changed terms in writing and you accepted them.
  • You cannot show you were ready: no dispatch record, no proof you left the yard.

Common mistakes owner-operators make with TONU

The most expensive one is verbal agreements: a dispatcher says "we will take care of you" and the cancellation email never mentions payment. The second is waiting a month to invoice, when the broker has already forgotten the load. The third is mixing TONU into the linehaul invoice instead of a separate line, which makes it easy to short-pay. Keep every cancellation, photo and timestamp in one folder per load, and send the invoice the same day.

Finally, remember that cancellations cluster around bad weather, port congestion and shipper schedule changes — all common in the Northeast. Treat TONU like insurance on your time: cheap to ask for before the load, hard to collect after it.

FAQ: TONU truck ordered not used

Is TONU the same as detention? No. Detention pays for time waiting at a stop; TONU pays when the load never moves.

Can I charge TONU if the broker cancels after I arrive? Yes, if your agreement covers it — and arrival proof makes the claim stronger.

Moving freight in NJ/NY?

Tell us the lane and equipment and we will quote it in writing, with accessorials like TONU spelled out.

Request a quote