LTL Accessorial Charges Explained

You got a great rate on your LTL shipment, but then the invoice arrived with an extra $200 in charges you didn’t expect. Sound familiar?

Those extra charges are called accessorials, and understanding them is crucial for managing your freight costs.

What Are Accessorial Charges?

Accessorial charges are fees for services beyond standard pickup and delivery. They cover additional labor, equipment, or time required to complete your shipment.

Standard LTL service assumes:

Commercial location with a dock
Forklift available for loading/unloading
No appointment needed
Normal business hours
Driver can drop the trailer and leave

Anything outside these assumptions triggers accessorial charges.

Common Accessorial Charges

Liftgate Service ($75-$150)

When it applies: Pickup or delivery location doesn’t have a loading dock.

A liftgate is a hydraulic platform on the truck that raises and lowers freight to ground level. Required for locations without docks, like:

Residential addresses
Small retail stores
Construction sites

Tip: Liftgate may be charged separately for pickup and delivery.

Residential Delivery ($75-$125)

When it applies: Delivery to a home or non-commercial address.

Residential deliveries take longer and often require liftgate service. Many carriers charge residential fees even for home-based businesses.

Limited Access Location ($75-$150)

When it applies: Delivery to locations that are difficult to access or service.

Examples include:

Schools and universities
Military bases
Prisons
Churches
Golf courses
Construction sites
Self-storage facilities

Inside Delivery ($100-$200+)

When it applies: Freight needs to be moved beyond the truck or dock.

Standard delivery is to the back of the truck or the receiving dock. Inside delivery means moving freight into the building, to a specific room, or up stairs.

Appointment/Notification ($25-$75)

When it applies: Delivery requires advance scheduling or call-ahead.

Many receivers require appointments to manage dock scheduling. Some locations need call-ahead notification before the driver arrives.

Redelivery ($100-$200)

When it applies: First delivery attempt fails.

If the receiver isn’t available, refuses delivery, or the address is incorrect, you’ll pay for a second attempt.

Storage ($25-$50/day)

When it applies: Freight sits at the terminal waiting for delivery.

If delivery can’t be completed (bad address, receiver unavailable, etc.), carriers charge daily storage fees.

Overlength/Overwidth ($50-$200+)

When it applies: Individual pieces exceed standard dimensions.

Most carriers consider anything over 8 feet long or 8 feet wide as oversized. Extreme dimensions may require special equipment.

Hazardous Materials ($25-$200+)

When it applies: Shipping dangerous goods.

Hazmat shipments require special handling, documentation, and trained drivers.

Sort and Segregate ($25-$50)

When it applies: Multiple deliveries on one BOL need to be separated.

If you ship multiple orders to different departments or locations on one shipment, carriers charge to sort them.

How to Avoid Surprise Accessorials

1. Know Your Locations

Understand the characteristics of your pickup and delivery points:

Is there a dock?
Is it a commercial or residential address?
Does the receiver require appointments?
Are there access restrictions?

2. Communicate with Receivers

Confirm delivery requirements before booking:

What hours can they receive freight?
Do they need call-ahead?
Can they unload from dock height?

3. Book Accurately

Include all needed services when you book, not after. Adding accessorials mid-shipment often costs more.

4. Review Quotes Carefully

Make sure quotes include all anticipated accessorials. A lower base rate with surprise fees isn’t actually cheaper.

How FreightSimple Handles Accessorials

Our platform helps you avoid accessorial surprises:

Transparent Quoting

We show all accessorial options upfront. You’ll know exactly what services cost before you book.

Smart Prompts

Our booking flow asks the right questions to identify needed services before they become surprise charges.

Bill Auditing

We automatically review invoices for unauthorized or incorrect accessorial charges and dispute them on your behalf.

Location Intelligence

Over time, we learn the requirements of your common destinations and prompt you accordingly.

Get transparent quotes with no surprises.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are LTL accessorial charges?

Accessorial charges are fees for services beyond standard LTL pickup and delivery. Standard service assumes a commercial location with a dock, forklift available, no appointment needed, and normal business hours. Anything outside these assumptions, like liftgate service, residential delivery, or inside delivery, triggers additional accessorial charges.

What are the most common LTL accessorial charges?

The most common accessorial charges include liftgate service ($75-150), residential pickup or delivery ($75-150), limited access locations ($50-125), inside delivery ($100-200), delivery appointments ($25-75), and reweigh/reclassification fees. Notify charges and detention fees are also common when shipments require special coordination.

How can I avoid surprise accessorial charges?

To avoid surprise accessorials, always disclose the full details of your pickup and delivery locations upfront, including whether a liftgate is needed, if it's a residential address, or if an appointment is required. FreightSimple includes all known accessorials in your upfront quote so the price you see is the price you pay, with no surprise charges after delivery.

Does FreightSimple include accessorial charges in quotes?

Yes. FreightSimple provides guaranteed all-in pricing. When you select accessorials during the quoting process, those charges are included in the price you see. Unlike traditional brokers who may add fees after delivery, FreightSimple's quoted price is the final price.