TONU
Truck ordered not used. A fee requested when a booked truck is canceled after the carrier has committed capacity.
Written and reviewed by LaneMath Editorial Team, with carrier workflow review from Dale Morrow where practical dispatch, paperwork, or lane-planning context is involved. Updated 2026-06-29. LaneMath pages use public references, example-only math, and conservative editorial review.
Carrier note
Use this term in context with the rate confirmation, broker communication, facility instructions, and billing paperwork. A short definition is useful, but the written load terms control the actual freight decision.
Carrier example
A driver dispatched to a pickup receives a cancellation call before arrival. The carrier documents the dispatch record, truck location, and cancellation time, then sends a TONU request citing the committed capacity and any deadhead already driven.
Common mistake
Waiting until the truck arrives at a closed facility before sending a TONU request — the strongest requests are built from dispatch records and cancellation timestamps, not just an arrival note.
Paperwork note
Keep the rate confirmation, dispatch record, truck location at cancellation, and the cancellation message together with the timeline from booking to cancel.
What supports a TONU request
Truck ordered not used applies when a carrier commits equipment and the load is canceled or unavailable under circumstances covered by the agreement. The exact trigger, amount, and eligibility vary, so a general industry phrase should not replace the confirmation or broker's written approval.
Useful records include dispatch time, truck location, empty miles already traveled, pickup appointment, cancellation time, broker messages, and the signed confirmation. The file should show that the truck was actually committed and what changed.
TONU versus a canceled load with no commitment
A posting that disappears before the carrier accepts it is different from a load canceled after equipment has been dispatched. The carrier should identify when it accepted the tender, what the confirmation says, how far the truck moved, and when cancellation notice arrived.
A TONU request can still be denied or disputed, and practices vary. The page does not promise payment. Its purpose is to help the carrier preserve the timeline and written communication needed for a factual request.
Questions to ask in context
- Was the truck formally dispatched or committed before the cancellation?
- What do the confirmation and broker messages say about TONU eligibility?
- How many empty miles or hours had the carrier already used?
References and methodology
- Accessorial documentation editorial methodology - LaneMath Editorial Desk. Used here for: Detention, lumper, layover, TONU, revised confirmation, and post-delivery document workflow examples.Used for documentation workflows and example scenarios, not for legal claims about collectability. Last checked 2026-06-29.
- Industry terminology and editorial explanation - LaneMath Editorial Desk. Used here for: Plain-English definitions, checklists, and example-only calculations.Editorial explanations are not official guidance, legal advice, or market data. Last checked 2026-06-29.