Accessorial Charges

What Are Accessorial Charges?

Accessorial charges are additional fees carriers charge on top of the base freight rate for services beyond standard pickup and delivery, such as liftgate service, inside delivery, residential delivery, or waiting time.

How Do Accessorial Charges Work?

When a shipment requires extra handling or a special service outside a carrier's standard scope, the carrier applies a separate line-item fee for that service on the freight invoice. These charges are typically listed in a carrier's tariff or accessorial charge schedule and can be triggered automatically based on the shipment's characteristics or requested at time of booking.

Common Types of Accessorial Charges

• Liftgate service
• Inside delivery/pickup
• Residential delivery
• Limited access delivery
• Detention/waiting time
• Reweigh and reclassification fees
• Notification/appointment fees

Why Accessorial Charges Matter

Accessorial charges can significantly inflate the final freight bill beyond the quoted base rate, and unexpected or incorrect accessorial charges are one of the most common sources of freight billing disputes. Understanding which accessorials apply to a shipment in advance helps shippers budget accurately and catch overbilling.