Glossary term
Free Time
The period during which cargo or equipment may be held without demurrage or detention accruing.
The allowance before charges begin - for cargo in a terminal, or for a container held outside it. Its length varies by carrier, port and contract, and is one of the more negotiable elements of a freight rate.
It usually runs from discharge or availability rather than from when the consignee learns of it, which is why an arrival notice is worth acting on immediately.