Accessorial Charges Explained: The Complete Guide for Shippers

Accessorial charges are the extra fees a carrier adds on top of the base linehaul rate for any service that goes beyond a standard dock-to-dock pickup and delivery. They're the single biggest reason a freight invoice doesn't match the quote, and most of them are avoidable if you flag the requirements before the truck is dispatched.

Why accessorials exist

A standard freight quote assumes the simplest possible move: a driver pulls up to a commercial dock with a forklift, the freight is loaded by the shipper, the driver runs straight to the consignee's dock, and the consignee unloads with their own equipment. Every deviation from that, a residential address, no dock, no forklift, blocked access, a long wait, a stop along the way, costs the carrier extra time, equipment, or labor. Accessorials are how that extra cost gets passed through.

The accessorial charges you'll see most often

1. Liftgate service

Adds a hydraulic platform to the back of the trailer that lowers freight to ground level. Required at any location without a dock, residential addresses, small businesses, construction sites, storage facilities. Typically $75 to $200 per stop for LTL, often included in FTL spot quotes if the truck has one available.

2. Residential pickup or delivery

Any address that's a residence, even if a business operates out of it. Carriers price this in because residential streets are slower to navigate, parking is harder, and consignees often aren't available during commercial hours. $50 to $150 per stop on top of the linehaul.

3. Inside delivery

Driver brings the freight past the threshold of the building, into a lobby, garage, or specific room. Standard freight pickup is "tailgate" only: the driver drops it on the loading dock or at the curb. Inside delivery requires more time and physical handling. $50 to $250 per stop depending on distance and floor count.

4. Limited access pickup or delivery

Schools, churches, prisons, military bases, construction sites, storage units, farms, mines, anywhere a driver can't just back up to a normal dock. Carriers charge for the extra time spent waiting at gates, getting escorted, or working around restricted hours. $50 to $150 per stop.

5. Detention

The fee charged when a driver waits longer than the free time allowed (usually 2 hours for FTL, 30 minutes for LTL) to load or unload. Detention is calculated per hour and varies by carrier. $50 to $100 per hour is typical, with some lanes hitting $125+. Detention is the most expensive accessorial when you stack it up, a 6-hour wait can add $500 to an invoice.

6. Layover

When a driver is forced to wait overnight because pickup or delivery couldn't happen on the scheduled day. Different from detention, layover is a full day fee, not hourly. $250 to $500 per day is standard.

7. Reclassification / reweigh

LTL-only. If the freight class you declared doesn't match what the carrier measures and weighs in transit, they'll reclassify it and bill the difference, plus a reclassification fee of $50 to $150. This is one of the most common surprise charges on LTL invoices.

8. TONU (Truck Order Not Used)

Charged when you book a truck and then cancel after the driver has already been dispatched. Pays the driver for the deadhead trip and lost opportunity. $250 to $500 is typical, depending on how far the truck had to travel before cancellation.

9. Driver assist (lumper service)

Driver helps load or unload the freight (instead of staying in the cab while dock workers handle it). Required where the receiver doesn't have its own labor, most grocery and warehouse receivers actually require lumper service, paid in advance. $75 to $200 per stop for hand-unloading, more for fully manual loads.

10. Hazmat / placards

Any cargo that requires hazmat placarding adds cost, both for the placards themselves and because hazmat-certified drivers are paid more. Hazmat fees vary widely. $50 to $250 per shipment depending on class and lane.

Lower-frequency accessorials you should still know about

• Stop-off charge: $50 to $150 per intermediate pickup or delivery stop beyond the first two.
• Tarping (flatbed): $50 to $200 to tarp a flatbed load, protects from weather, but adds 30+ minutes of driver time.
• Pallet jack: Required when the driver hand-jacks freight into a building. Usually bundled with inside delivery.
• Sort and segregate: LTL fee when the carrier has to organize mixed freight at a stop. $75 to $150.
• Notification / appointment fee: Some carriers charge to schedule a specific delivery window. $25 to $75.
• COD (Cash on Delivery): If the carrier collects payment from the consignee on your behalf. Usually 3 to 5% of the collected amount.
• Fuel surcharge: Not technically an accessorial, but always added, a percentage of linehaul (typically 20 to 35%) that adjusts with diesel prices.

Typical accessorial cost ranges

How to avoid surprise accessorials

Most surprise charges come from missing information at quote time. Here's the checklist any reputable broker should walk through with you before locking in a rate:

• What kind of location is the pickup and delivery? Commercial dock, residential, construction site, storage facility, farm, school, military base? Disclose anything that isn't a standard commercial dock.
• Do both ends have a forklift? If not, you'll need a liftgate.
• What are the receiving hours? Tight windows mean potential layover or detention.
• Are appointments required? Some receivers require scheduled delivery, make sure the broker knows.
• Will the driver need to wait past 2 hours? If you know the load or unload will be slow, ask for detention to be priced in upfront.
• For LTL: what's the actual weight and dimensions? If you guess and underclass the freight, you'll get reclassed in transit and pay a penalty.
• Is it hazmat? Always disclose. Undeclared hazmat is a federal violation.

The bottom line

Accessorial charges are unavoidable when the requirements call for them, but they shouldn't be a surprise. The shippers who consistently come in under budget aren't the ones who argue accessorials off invoices; they're the ones who disclose every detail at quote time and work with brokers who price everything in upfront. The most expensive accessorial is always the one you didn't see coming.

Frequently asked questions