In the world of freight shipping, no two deliveries are exactly alike. Some shipments require a liftgate, others need weekend delivery, and sometimes a driver ends up waiting at a dock for hours. These additional services come with costs — known in the trucking industry as accessorial charges.
Whether you’re shipping a single pallet via LTL freight or managing multiple truckloads each week, understanding accessorials is essential. Not only do they affect your freight bill, but they can also impact profit margins, service quality, and customer satisfaction.
This guide will break down what accessorial charges are, common examples in logistics, how they differ between truckload and LTL freight, and how shippers and carriers can manage them more efficiently — including how nuVizz Last Mile TMS automates the process to prevent revenue leakage and disputes.
What Are Accessorial Charges in Trucking?
In simple terms, accessorial charges (or simply “accessorials”) are fees applied for additional services beyond the standard line-haul transportation rate.
The base freight rate typically covers moving goods from point A to point B under standard conditions. But in reality, shipments often require extra handling, special equipment, or non-standard delivery arrangements. Accessorial fees compensate carriers for these extra costs.
Commonly asked:
- “What are accessorial charges?” – They are service-based fees for non-standard freight handling.
- “Are they the same as hidden fees?” – No. When managed properly, accessorials are transparent, agreed upon in contracts, and triggered by specific shipment conditions.
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Automate TodayCommon Accessorials in Logistics & Freight Shipping
Here are some of the most frequent freight accessorial charges you’ll encounter:
1. Liftgate Service
Required when the delivery location doesn’t have a loading dock or forklift. The carrier uses a truck with a hydraulic lift to lower freight to the ground. Common in pallet shipments to retail stores, residential areas, and construction sites.
2. Residential Delivery Surcharge
Applied when delivering to a residential address. Navigating smaller streets, arranging delivery times, and longer unloading times all add complexity.
3. Inside Delivery
Covers labor to move freight inside a building rather than leaving it at a loading dock or curb.
4. Detention / Waiting Time
If a driver is kept waiting beyond the free loading/unloading window (often 30 minutes for LTL, 2 hours for TL), carriers charge per additional time block.
5. Fuel Surcharge
A variable percentage applied to offset fluctuating diesel costs.
6. Limited Access Location Fee
Applies to deliveries at places like schools, military bases, or convention centers where entry is restricted and extra coordination is needed.
7. Pallet-Related Charges
In many freight shipping scenarios, especially LTL, pallets themselves can trigger additional costs. These pallet-related charges cover the materials, equipment, and handling required to secure, move, or exchange pallets during transit.
- Pallet Shrink-Wrapping: For securing goods on pallets.
- Pallet Jack Use: When manual equipment is needed to move pallets.
- Pallet Exchange: If pallets need to be swapped with the consignee.
8. Weekend or After-Hours Delivery
Extra labor and scheduling complexity mean carriers charge more for non-business-hour deliveries.
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Optimize Routes NowAccessorial Charges in Truckload vs. LTL Freight
While truckload (TL) and less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers both apply accessorial fees, the structure and frequency differ:
Truckload Freight:
- More focused on time- and equipment-related fees (detention, layovers, driver assist).
- Charges often negotiated per contract and applied less frequently per shipment.
LTL Freight:
- More granular charges due to multiple stops and palletized shipments.
- Residential surcharges, limited access fees, and pallet handling charges are common.
Example:
A single pallet shipment to a school (LTL) could incur a limited access fee, liftgate fee, and inside delivery fee — while a full truckload delivery to a warehouse might only see a detention fee if unloading is delayed.
Why Shippers Often Miss Accessorial Fees
Many businesses underestimate the impact of accessorials until they appear on the invoice. Here’s why they get overlooked:
- Not included in quotes – Quotes often reflect base line-haul charges only.
- Inconsistent carrier billing – Without standardization, identical shipments may be charged differently.
- Poor communication – Sales teams don’t always relay special delivery needs to operations.
- Limited visibility – Without a TMS or tracking system, shippers can’t see events that trigger charges.
The result? Unexpected freight delivery charges that disrupt budgets and customer relationships.
How to Avoid Disputes Over Freight Accessorial Charges
Avoiding disputes starts with transparency and process discipline:
- Request a full list of carrier-imposed fees before signing a contract.
- Document service requirements clearly on the Bill of Lading (BOL).
- Track shipment milestones to verify when charges apply (e.g., detention start times).
- Review accessorial history regularly to identify high-cost trends.
How Configurable Accessorial Charges in a TMS Solve the Problem
This is where technology — specifically, nuVizz Last Mile TMS — transforms how shippers and carriers handle accessorials.
With nuVizz, accessorial charges are not just tracked — they’re automated:
- Configurable Fee Structures – Set up charges as fixed amounts, percentage-based fees, or dynamic calculations based on weight, time, distance, or service type.
- Automatic Charge Application – The system applies charges when predefined conditions are met (e.g., residential address, wait time exceeded).
- Invoice Accuracy – Every applicable surcharge is captured on the invoice, preventing revenue leakage.
- Dispute Prevention – Clear visibility into when and why each charge was added.
- Contract Alignment – Customize charges per customer contract to maintain competitive pricing without sacrificing margins.
By automating accessorial management, carriers recover costs consistently, and shippers get predictable, transparent freight billing.
Key Takeaways for Shippers and Carriers
For both shippers and carriers, the way accessorial charges are managed can make the difference between profitable operations and unexpected cost overruns. Understanding the most common charges, when they apply, and how to address them upfront is essential to avoiding disputes and protecting margins. By adopting a proactive approach — supported by accurate data and automation — businesses can turn accessorial management from a reactive headache into a strategic advantage.
- Accessorial charges are essential for covering the true cost of freight services.
- Truckload and LTL freight have different common accessorials — know what applies to your shipments.
- Many businesses lose money or strain customer relationships because charges aren’t managed proactively.
- A configurable TMS like nuVizz ensures accurate, dispute-free billing.
When managed with the right tools and processes, accessorial charges stop being a source of friction and start becoming a predictable, fair component of your logistics strategy.
Final Word
Accessorials don’t have to be a source of confusion or frustration. With the right processes and the right technology, they become a transparent, fair, and predictable part of doing business.
Ready to see how nuVizz can help you manage accessorial charges more efficiently?
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