McLeod Software now offers a Detention Module giving carriers the ability to automatically notify and bill excessive detention time to their customers especially those incurred because of the Hours of Service rules, company officials said.

The Detention Module is used to calculate detention charges for particular customers based on specific shipping or receiving locations. Integrated with the mobile communication’s auto dispatch process, a new detention record will be created upon the receipt of an arrival message.

At the time of arrival of the load, the system will determine if the site has been designated as eligible for detention charges. If so, a record is added to the Detention Module History Screen to start detention monitoring. When the truck’s departure notification is received, the detention history records status and departure time. The system updates the load record with the calculated detention charges along with the other charges in the billing record. All charges are then automatically sent via e-mail or fax to the customer.

The Detention Module can be set up to allow a designated amount of “free time” at each location before detention charges are accumulated. A “warning time” is also available so that within the free time, a warning message may be emailed or faxed to the appropriate parties. After the free time has expired, but before the departure from the location, the detention charges start accumulating. Two detention periods are available, with different billing codes and rates. In addition, the system’s reporting capabilities can be used to identify trends by customer, location, tractor or driver for investigative inquires. Manual updates can be made to the record, as needed.

For details: McLeod Software at 877-362-5363 or www.McLeodSoftware.com.