Free time is the grace period a terminal, ocean carrier, or railroad grants before storage and equipment-use charges start. For an import container, it is the number of days the box may remain at the terminal after discharge before demurrage begins; for equipment, it is the days allowed to use and return a container and chassis before detention or per diem starts.
Free time is typically measured in a handful of calendar or business days and varies by carrier, terminal, and contract. Weekends, holidays, and terminal closures can either count against it or be excluded, depending on the tariff — a detail that materially changes when charges kick in.
Managing free time is the core financial discipline of drayage. The last day of free time is the "last free day," and getting the container out and the equipment returned before it expires is what keeps a move profitable.
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