Freight Accessorial Charges Explained
Accessorial charges are the most common source of unexpected freight bills. Here's what each one means, when it applies, and how to keep your invoices predictable.
You approved a freight quote for $680. The invoice came in at $940. Nobody called to warn you.
This scenario plays out constantly in LTL shipping, and the cause is almost always the same: accessorial charges that weren't declared when the shipment was booked. Carriers charge these fees regardless of whether you knew about them. The only thing declaring them upfront changes is when you find out the total.
Here's a complete breakdown of what accessorials are, which ones apply to common shipping situations, and how to make sure they're always priced into your quote before you commit.
What accessorial charges are
Accessorials are fees for services beyond standard dock-to-dock freight delivery. Standard delivery assumes a commercial location with a loading dock, a forklift, and staff available to receive freight during business hours. When any of those assumptions don't apply, a carrier charges extra.
Some accessorials are location-based — residential stops, limited-access locations. Others are service-based — inside delivery, liftgate, appointment scheduling. A few are penalties for avoidable situations — redelivery, detention. Understanding which category an accessorial falls into helps you know which ones you can predict and control.
The accessorials that catch shippers most often
Liftgate pickup and liftgate delivery
If your pickup or delivery location doesn't have a loading dock — meaning a freight truck can't back up to a raised platform for level loading — you need a liftgate. This is a hydraulic platform mounted to the rear of the truck that lowers freight from truck bed height (about 4 feet) to ground level.
Liftgates are needed at small businesses without docks, warehouses that weren't built for freight, and any residential stop. They're also needed when a dock is unavailable during pickup or delivery hours.
Typical cost: $75–$150 per occurrence. Most shipments that need liftgate need it at both ends — that's up to $300 before you've paid for the freight itself.
Residential pickup and residential delivery
Carriers classify delivery locations based on zoning. A home address is obviously residential. But so are home-based businesses, business addresses in residential neighborhoods, and some rural addresses that a carrier's system flags as residential.
This fee is often paired with liftgate, since most residential locations don't have docks. If you're shipping to or from a home, budget for both.
Typical cost: $50–$100 each way.
Delivery appointment
Many commercial receivers — distribution centers, big-box retailers, medical facilities, schools — require a scheduled delivery window. The carrier has to call ahead, confirm a time, and adjust their delivery route to arrive within that window.
If your consignee requires an appointment and you don't declare it when booking, the carrier will attempt delivery without calling first. If they can't get in, you'll pay a redelivery fee on top of the appointment fee.
Typical cost: $50–$100.
Inside pickup and inside delivery
Standard freight service means the driver picks up or drops freight at the door, dock, or immediately inside the building entrance. Inside pickup and inside delivery cover anything beyond that — moving freight into a room, up an elevator, past a threshold, or to a specific area within the building.
Typical cost: $75–$200, depending on how far inside and how much handling is involved.
Limited access
Carriers maintain lists of location types they classify as limited access — places where maneuvering a freight truck is difficult, time is unpredictable, or access is restricted. Common limited-access locations include construction sites, schools, churches, farms, military bases, prisons, convention centers, and some downtown addresses with restricted loading zones.
If you're shipping to or from one of these and don't declare it, you'll pay the fee plus whatever penalty the carrier applies for undisclosed accessorials.
Typical cost: $75–$200.
Driver assist
When dock workers or warehouse staff aren't available to load or unload freight, the driver can do it — but the carrier charges for that time and effort. This is common at small businesses that don't have dedicated receiving staff and at residential deliveries where the driver is handling freight solo.
Typical cost: $75–$150.
Redelivery
When a carrier attempts delivery and can't complete it — no one available to receive, dock inaccessible, freight refused — they'll attempt again and charge a redelivery fee for the additional trip.
This one is entirely preventable. Make sure your consignee knows the expected delivery window, has someone available to receive freight, and knows what to do if there's a problem. A quick email or call before delivery day prevents a $150 fee and a delayed shipment.
Typical cost: $100–$200 per additional attempt.
Detention
Carriers allow a limited amount of free time at pickup and delivery — typically 30 to 60 minutes per stop depending on the carrier. If a driver is waiting beyond that window because freight isn't ready, dock staff aren't available, or there's a delay in loading or unloading, the carrier charges detention.
Typical cost: $50–$100 per hour beyond free time.
Fuel surcharge
Not exactly hidden, but worth understanding. Every LTL and FTL shipment includes a fuel surcharge tied to the current price of diesel, updated weekly based on the Department of Energy's national average. It's calculated as a percentage of the base rate and should always be included in any legitimate freight quote.
If a quote doesn't include fuel surcharge, it's either being shown separately or — more concerning — it's being withheld to make the rate look lower than it is.
Hazmat
Shipments containing materials regulated by the DOT require special handling, documentation, and often specialized carriers. Hazmat fees vary widely depending on the classification and quantity, but they're significant and non-negotiable.
If your freight is or might be classified as hazardous, flag it explicitly when requesting a quote. Not all carriers will handle it, and the ones that do need to know in advance.
The right way to handle accessorials
Declare everything upfront. When you request a freight quote, walk through every aspect of your pickup and delivery locations — dock availability, residential classification, receipt requirements, any timing constraints. If something might apply, mention it. A legitimate freight broker will either price it in or confirm it doesn't apply before quoting.
Compare the invoice to your quote line by line. When your invoice arrives, verify every line item against what was quoted. Accessorials that weren't on your original quote should come with an explanation. If a carrier is adding charges without explanation, push back before paying — our guide on how to read a freight invoice walks through exactly what to check.
Work with a broker who asks the right questions. The best way to avoid accessorial surprises is to work with a broker who builds them into every quote from the start. At Route 89, we ask about pickup and delivery conditions on every shipment — not because we're being thorough for its own sake, but because a rate that changes after delivery isn't a rate worth quoting.
Get a freight quote where the number you see is the number you pay. Most quotes are back the same business day.