Accessorial charges are the fees that appear on your freight invoice beyond the basic linehaul rate. They cover services, circumstances, or requirements that go beyond standard dock-to-dock pickup and delivery. For many shippers, accessorials are the most frustrating part of freight billing because they can add 10% to 40% to the total cost of a shipment — and they often come as a surprise on the invoice.
Why Accessorial Charges Exist
Carriers price their base rates assuming ideal conditions: the shipper has a loading dock, freight is palletized and ready, loading takes under two hours, and the delivery site is a commercial location with a dock. When any of these assumptions do not hold, the carrier incurs additional time, labor, or equipment costs. Accessorials compensate for those costs.
The key to managing accessorials is knowing which ones apply to your shipments before you book — not discovering them on the invoice after delivery.
Detention Charges
Detention is charged when a carrier's driver waits beyond the allotted free time at your facility. Most carriers offer 1 to 2 hours of free time for loading or unloading. After that, detention accrues at $50 to $100 per hour. For a driver who waits 5 hours to be loaded, that is $150 to $300 in detention on top of the freight rate.
Detention hurts carriers because drivers are paid by the mile, not by the hour. A truck sitting at a dock is not earning revenue. To minimize detention: have freight staged and ready before the truck arrives, schedule appointments accurately, and ensure adequate dock staff during busy periods. For more on this topic, see our article on detention and demurrage.
Liftgate Service
A liftgate is a hydraulic platform attached to the back of a truck that raises or lowers freight between ground level and the trailer floor. Liftgate service is required when the pickup or delivery location does not have a loading dock. The charge typically runs $75 to $200 per use.
If you regularly ship to or from locations without docks — retail stores, offices, construction sites, residential addresses — factor liftgate costs into every quote. Some carriers include liftgate automatically for residential deliveries; others charge it separately.
Residential Delivery and Pickup
Carriers charge a residential surcharge ($75 to $200) for pickups or deliveries at residential addresses. Residential locations typically lack loading docks, have narrow driveways, and may not accommodate a full-size tractor-trailer. The carrier may need to send a smaller truck or a truck with a liftgate, both of which cost more to operate.
Even if your location is a commercial business, carriers may classify it as residential based on the zip code. If your business operates from a commercially zoned property in a residential area, provide documentation to dispute the residential classification.
Inside Delivery
Standard freight delivery means the driver drops your freight at the dock or tailgate. Inside delivery — bringing freight past the threshold into the building — costs an additional $100 to $300. This charge covers the driver's time and labor, and some carriers require an additional helper for inside deliveries.
Limited Access Locations
Limited access surcharges apply to locations that are difficult for trucks to reach: construction sites, military bases, schools, churches, farms, mine sites, and locations with unpaved roads or tight turning radii. The charge ranges from $75 to $250 depending on the carrier and the specific access challenges.
Lumper Fees
A lumper is a third-party unloading crew required at many large retail and grocery distribution centers. The receiver dictates whether a lumper must be used, and the shipper typically pays. Lumper fees range from $150 to $400 per shipment. While you cannot avoid lumper fees at facilities that require them, you can factor the cost into your pricing when quoting shipments to those locations.
Redelivery and Storage
If a delivery attempt fails — the receiver is closed, refuses the freight, or cannot accommodate the truck — the carrier will charge a redelivery fee of $200 to $400 for a second attempt. If freight must be held at a terminal or warehouse between attempts, storage charges of $25 to $75 per day may also apply.
Fuel Surcharges
While technically not an accessorial in the traditional sense, fuel surcharges appear on every freight invoice and fluctuate weekly based on the DOE national diesel average. FTL fuel surcharges are typically expressed as a per-mile rate or a percentage of linehaul. LTL carriers publish their own fuel surcharge tables. During periods of high diesel prices, fuel surcharges can add 25% to 40% to the base rate.
How to Minimize Accessorial Costs
- Know your requirements upfront: Before booking, identify every accessorial your shipment will need. Include them in your quote request so the rate you receive is the rate you pay.
- Optimize your dock operations: Fast loading and unloading reduces detention and makes your facility more attractive to carriers, which can translate to better rates.
- Consolidate shipments: Fewer, larger shipments mean fewer accessorial events. One FTL with a single liftgate charge is cheaper than three LTL shipments each incurring liftgate fees.
- Negotiate accessorial caps: For high-volume lanes, negotiate maximum accessorial charges or flat-rate accessorial packages with your carriers.
- Work with a dispatch partner: A freight dispatch service audits invoices for incorrect accessorial charges and negotiates competitive rates that include the services you need.
Understanding accessorials is one of the fastest ways to reduce your freight spend. When you know what each charge covers and which ones apply to your operations, you can budget accurately and negotiate from a position of knowledge. Get a quote to see how our team can help you manage freight costs including every accessorial.