What Are Freight Accessorial Charges?

Freight accessorial charges are fees for services or conditions outside the basic transportation of a shipment from pickup to delivery. A carrier may charge for using a liftgate, waiting beyond the allowed loading time, delivering to a limited-access property, correcting inaccurate freight details, or returning after an unsuccessful delivery attempt. Some accessorials are known before pickup and included in the quote. Others appear because something changed or wasn’t disclosed.

Accessorial charges aren’t automatically a sign that something went wrong. A liftgate fee is reasonable when a receiver has no dock and needs the freight lowered to the ground. The problem is finding out about that need after the truck arrives.

Freight Squad is here to help sort through those details before the truck is booked. By reviewing the freight, the facilities, and the timing upfront, we can identify the services the shipment is likely to need and build a clearer quote from the start.

Freight Accessorial Charges Cover Work Outside Basic Transportation

A freight rate usually has several parts.

The line-haul charge covers the core movement between the origin and destination. A fuel surcharge accounts for changes in fuel costs. Accessorial charges cover added equipment, handling, labor, waiting time, site conditions, or special service.

That distinction matters when comparing quotes. One carrier’s base rate may look lower because several known services haven’t been included. Another quote may cost more at first glance but already includes the liftgate, appointment, and limited-access delivery the shipment requires.

The better comparison is the expected final cost, not the smallest number on the first line.

Old Dominion Freight Line’s explanation of accessorial charges describes them as charges for services beyond standard pickup and delivery. Each carrier defines those services through its own tariff, service guide, or customer agreement.

Common Pickup and Delivery Accessorial Charges

Many freight accessorial charges are tied to the facilities at either end of the shipment. The carrier needs to know what equipment is available, where the truck can park, and how the freight will move between the trailer and the building.

A liftgate is one of the most common examples. It’s needed when palletized freight must be lowered from the trailer to ground level and the location doesn’t have a loading dock. The carrier needs to dispatch a trailer with the correct equipment, so this service should be requested before pickup.

Limited-access charges apply to locations where normal commercial pickup or delivery is harder. Depending on the carrier’s rules, that may include:

• Construction sites
• Schools and universities
• Farms or rural properties
• Storage facilities
• Military installations
• Churches
• Prisons
• Oil fields, mines, or quarries
• Residential properties
• Locations without regular receiving staff

A business address isn’t always a standard commercial location. A contractor’s office inside a storage complex may still qualify as limited access.

Inside delivery is another service that causes confusion. Standard freight delivery usually ends at the curb, dock, or normal receiving area. Inside delivery means the driver moves the freight beyond that point. It doesn’t necessarily include unpacking, assembly, installation, or carrying freight up stairs.

Appointment delivery and advance notification may also carry a fee. These services take additional coordination and reduce the carrier’s scheduling flexibility.

Detention and Layover Charges Pay for Lost Truck Time

Truckload carriers generally allow a set amount of time for loading and unloading. If the driver waits beyond that period, detention charges may begin.

Detention can happen because:

• The freight isn’t ready
• A dock door is unavailable
• Loading equipment has broken down
• Paperwork is incomplete
• The receiver is short-staffed
• The driver arrives on time but isn’t checked in promptly
• The load needs to be rearranged or repackaged

The exact free-time allowance and hourly charge depend on the carrier agreement. The clock may start at the appointment time, the driver’s arrival time, or another defined point.

A layover is different. It generally applies when a delay keeps the driver or truck until the next day rather than adding a shorter wait to the current stop. A receiver that postpones unloading until the following morning may trigger a layover instead of ordinary detention.

Driver-assist charges may apply if the driver is expected to help load, unload, count, sort, or move freight. Driving the truck doesn’t automatically include warehouse labor.

Clear appointment records matter when these charges are disputed. Keep arrival times, check-in records, loading documents, emails, and signed delivery paperwork.

Redelivery and Attempted Pickup Fees

A redelivery charge may apply when the carrier reaches the destination but can’t complete delivery. That could happen because the business is closed, no one is available to receive the freight, the appointment wasn’t scheduled, or the receiving location refuses the shipment.

An attempted pickup may be charged when the driver arrives and the freight isn’t ready, properly packaged, or available for release.

These situations create extra miles and take up capacity that could have been used for another shipment. They also affect terminal schedules for LTL freight shipping.

Before dispatch, make sure both locations have the shipment reference numbers, carrier information, expected arrival window, and contact details for someone who can solve a problem quickly.

LTL Shipments Have Their Own Common Accessorials

LTL pricing depends heavily on the shipment information submitted during quoting. The carrier may inspect, weigh, or measure freight after pickup. If the actual shipment differs from the bill of lading, the final invoice may change.

A reweigh charge or rate adjustment may occur when the shipment weighs more than reported. A dimension correction may change the shipment’s density and freight class.

Reclassification occurs when the listed freight class doesn’t match the commodity, density, handling needs, stowability, or liability characteristics used by the carrier. This may change the transportation rate and add an inspection or correction fee.

Other LTL accessorials may apply to:

• Overlength freight
• Non-stackable pallets
• Corrected bills of lading
• Hazardous materials
• Freeze protection
• Sort-and-segregate service
• Additional handling
• Trade show pickup or delivery

A pallet that extends beyond the standard footprint deserves special attention. Long pipe, trim, rolled flooring, fabricated parts, and machinery may take up more trailer space than their weight suggests.

Use exact measurements, including packaging and anything extending beyond the pallet. Don’t round a 97-inch piece down to eight feet because it sounds close enough. Carrier thresholds are often precise.

Truckload Accessorials Work Differently

With full truckload shipping, the shipper reserves the trailer rather than sharing it with other freight. Reclassification is generally not the main concern, but time, equipment, and changes to the original plan still affect the cost.

Common truckload accessorial charges include detention, layover, truck ordered but not used, driver assist, extra stops, storage, after-hours service, and route changes.

A truck ordered but not used charge may apply when a carrier is dispatched and the load cancels too late for the truck to be reassigned. This is sometimes called a TONU.

Extra-stop charges apply when the truck must pick up or deliver at locations that weren’t included in the original rate. Even a stop located near the planned route adds time, mileage, and scheduling requirements.

The quote should state how many stops are included and whether the shipment requires appointments at each one.

Specialized Freight Brings Specialized Charges

Some accessorials are part of moving freight that requires equipment or service outside a standard dry van.

Flatbed freight shipping may involve tarping, chains, straps, blocking, oversized-load permits, escort vehicles, or jobsite delivery. Tarping should be requested clearly because it adds work and may require a specific tarp size or material.

Refrigerated freight shipping may include continuous temperature control, pre-cooling, temperature records, fuel used while waiting, or washout requirements.

Heavy haul shipping may require permits, route surveys, escorts, specialized trailers, bridge review, or crane coordination. These aren’t small extras added to an otherwise standard move. They are part of building a legal and workable transportation plan.

Hazardous materials may require qualified drivers, placards, paperwork, approved equipment, and route compliance. The shipper should identify hazardous freight before requesting a rate.

Why Accessorial Charges Vary

There is no single accessorial price list used by every freight company. Carriers have different rules, minimum charges, service areas, equipment costs, and operating procedures.

LTL charges are often defined in a carrier’s published rules tariff. Truckload accessorials are more commonly stated in the rate confirmation or transportation agreement. A broker may negotiate detention, layover, or cancellation terms with the carrier assigned to the shipment.

Rates also change. A fee found on an old invoice or online chart may no longer apply.

Ask what the quoted rate includes and review the assumptions. A quote may assume a commercial dock at both locations, standard business hours, no driver assistance, and freight matching the submitted dimensions. If any of those assumptions are wrong, the rate needs to be updated.

How to Avoid Preventable Accessorial Charges

You can’t remove every accessorial. If the receiver needs a liftgate, that service still has a cost. The goal is to identify it before pickup so the correct equipment and price are confirmed.

Start by checking both facilities rather than focusing only on the freight. Ask whether they have a dock, forklift, appointment system, restricted receiving hours, security process, or limited truck access.

Make sure the freight is ready before the pickup window. Packaging should be complete, labels attached, and paperwork available. The loading crew should know the driver is coming.

For LTL, verify the weight and outside dimensions after packaging. Confirm whether the freight is stackable. Use the correct commodity description and freight class rather than copying information from an unrelated past shipment.

For truckload moves, put free time and accessorial rates in writing. Confirm loading expectations, included stops, trailer requirements, and the procedure for reporting delays.

What to Include in a Freight Quote Request

A complete request should include:

• Pickup and delivery ZIP codes
• Full facility types and access details
• Commodity and packaging
• Pallet or piece count
• Exact length, width, and height
• Total weight
• Freight class or NMFC information when applicable
• Whether the freight is stackable
• Dock and forklift availability
• Liftgate or inside-delivery needs
• Pickup and delivery windows
• Appointment requirements
• Contact information for both locations
• Hazardous-material or temperature requirements
• Special equipment and handling instructions

Photos are useful for unusual freight, construction-site deliveries, machinery, and anything that doesn’t fit neatly on a standard pallet.

Freight Squad Reviews Accessorials Before Pickup

Freight Squad matches the shipment with the appropriate mode, equipment, and transportation provider through its nationwide freight shipping services. Known accessorial requirements are reviewed during quoting so line haul, fuel, and expected service charges can be understood before the load moves.

Some charges still depend on what happens during pickup or delivery. A carrier can’t price an unexpected six-hour delay in advance. Clear communication makes those situations easier to document and resolve.

To request a quote, send Freight Squad the shipment and facility details. Include the freight measurements, weight, access conditions, loading equipment, timing, and any special handling the shipment requires.