Best Practices

Use these guidelines to design and maintain effective free time policies.

Policy creation

• Use clear, descriptive names that indicate the policy type or location.
• Define intervals that align with industry standards for your region.
• Ensure interval ranges are consecutive without gaps.
• Set pricing that reflects actual terminal or storage costs plus margin.

Pricing structure

• Start with a reasonable free period (typically 5–10 days).
• Increase pricing progressively to encourage timely action.
• Review competitor pricing to remain competitive.

Policy management

• Review and update free time policies when terminal tariffs change.
• Maintain consistency across similar routes or services.
• Document any policy changes and effective dates.
• Communicate changes to customers in advance.

Common questions

What happens if a container stays beyond the last interval?
Typically, the last interval pricing continues to apply daily. Check with your operations team for specific policies.

Can I have different free time policies for different ports?
Yes, create separate free time policies with distinct names for each port or service type.

How do I change pricing for just one interval?
Edit the free time policy and update the specific interval’s 20’ and/or 40’ pricing fields.

Do I need to define all 5 intervals?
No, you can define as few or as many intervals as needed. Many policies use 3–5 intervals depending on typical storage patterns.

Can I set different free time for import vs. export?
Yes, create separate free time policies (e.g., F10 Export and F10 Import) with different interval structures.