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List of Accessorials Information for Shippers
Your guide to avoiding unnecessary freight costs & strengthening carrier relationships
Detention… Lumpers… TONU…
It’s the stuff we don’t really want to talk about, but it’s important that we do.
Accessorial charges are a part of the business.
Not every freight shipment is the same… some loads require special handling… and, well, things happen on loading docks… on receiving docks… and on the open road.
Truth is, logistics isn’t always easy or smooth.
While you can’t eliminate them, you can address them up front with your carriers and shipping partners.
Having a list of pre-determined accessorial charges helps you better anticipate, mitigate, manage, and in some cases prevent any unnecessary charges.
It’ll also build better carrier relations and reduce some of the freight stress…
If a driver is required to stop at multiple locations to either pick up or deliver a shipment, an additional stop charge may be applied to your freight bill in addition to all other charges.
The Standard: $50/stop for any more than 1 pickup and 1 delivery location.
Tip: Make sure your pallets are loaded according to stop order. The last delivery stop should be loaded first, and the first delivery stop should be loaded last.
If the carrier needs to notify the receiver before making a delivery, an extra fee may be applicable in addition to all other charges.
The Standard: $0-$50
Tip: If advanced notification is needed, it’s important to let your transportation partner know why. Does a gate to be opened? Does someone need to meet the driver?
Deliveries requested outside normal operating hours (8 a.m. – 5 p.m.) may cost extra depending on how late or how early the pickup/delivery is occurring.
The Standard: $150-$250
Tip: Every carrier charges differently. Ina addition to linehaul and fuel, you should expect an additional cost for “off” hour deliveries. Be mindful of the driver’s hours of service as they could factor in the equation.
A blind shipment is when one or more parties to a shipment doesn’t know the identity of the shipper and/or receiver. A blind shipment service must be requested before freight pickup and will incur an additional fee on top of all other charges. A shipment can also be double blind. This means the shipper is also kept in the dark as to where the shipment will be delivered.
The Standard: $50 – $100
Tip: It’s important to use a transportation provider you trust to deliver a blind shipment. Verify your instructions are clear as to which parties will be blind to the actual locations. The provider must clearly spell out in their paperwork what needs to happen. Double check your actual bill of lading as well as the blind bill of lading.
If a carrier is required to make any changes to the original bill of lading, including changing the billing terms, an additional charge may be applied
The Standard: $25-$100 depending on carrier
While shipping contracts may account for some detention time, detention charges apply if a driver is delayed at a shipper/receiver location for an excessive amount of time (over 2 hours). Detention is one of the most common truckload accessorial charges.
The Standard: $40/hour
Tip: Ask your vendors and customers what their average load/unload time. Certain packaging and handling can affect load/unload times. Floor loaded items could take longer than two hours. Are lumpers being used? If so, ensure there’s enough personnel to load/unload in less than two hours.
If a carrier must drive to a different location upon arrival at the shipper’s or receiver’s address, a fee for lost fuel and time may be charged.
The Standard: Usually this will be the rate per mile multiplied by the additional miles; however, this is a variable cost from carrier to carrier, and situation to situation.
Tip: We’re all human and mistakes happen; double check all paperwork throughout the process.
If a driver is required to load or unload freight, an additional labor charge is applied to the final bill.
The Standard: $50/hour
Tip: It’s not uncommon for drivers to charge more than the standard especially if they weren’t notified ahead of time that they may need to unload.
Shipments destined to or returning from convention centers may be subject to an additional fee. This can be comparable to detention costs.
The Standard: $50/hour
Tip: With limited docks and numerous deliveries, wait times can exceed four hours.
Upon request for a carrier to supply additional manpower to support the driver, an additional labor fee will apply.
The Standard: This is a highly variable cost, anywhere from $50 – $150/hour.
Tip: Prior to shipping, verify how the load is typically unloaded. Is there staff onsite to unload, or is a lumper service used? Drivers are the ones actually charged for this service, so in fairness, they need to pass this charge to the customer.
Myth: The facility pays for this service.
A fuel surcharge prevents a carrier from having to forecast the cost of fuel and is subject to the price of fuel in effect at the time and place of shipping.
The Standard: This is a cost determined by the Department of Energy and is updated every Tuesday at 8 a.m. CST.
Tip: Fuel pricing is constantly fluctuating; always keep a close eye it.
Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) require proper documentation and transport. The added health risk, extra paperwork, and special handling are compensated for through a hazardous materials accessorial fee.
The Standard: $250-$500
Tip: Give your carrier at least 72 hours notice before picking up the load. Securing a dry van is relatively easy but finding a HAZMAT carrier with the proper placards could be more challenging.
You’ll be charged an extra layover fee when a driver is forced to stay overnight at a pickup or delivery location. This usually happens because the driver is unable to load or unload before the location closes or because an appointment is missed.
The Standard: $150 Dry Van * $250 – $300 Refrigerated, flatbed or anything specialized
Tip: Communicating the shipping/receiving hours to your carrier can easily avoid layover fees. Are appointment times necessary? Is it first come first serve? What reference numbers and paperwork is needed for the driver to pick-up or deliver?
When shipments need to be made to an address with no loading dock, a lift gate is required. A liftgate is a hydraulic platform fitted to the back of a truck and used to raise or lower a shipment. What’s important to note is that not all trucks are equipped with liftgates. So, if you require this service, make sure you communicate it prior to shipping, or the carrier won’t be able to complete the delivery.
The Standard: $200-$250
Tip: Lift gates are common in the LTL world, but not the case in full truck loads. Lift gates limit the maximum weight of the load by as much as 2,000 – 3,000 pounds.
The limited access pickup/delivery fee covers the additional costs required to pick up or deliver shipments at locations with limited access. This includes military bases, prisons, ports, and government buildings. Drivers may be required to have a TWIC Card, Transportation Worker Identification Card. The TWIC program provides a tamper-resistant biometric credential to drivers and is a lot like TSA Pre-Check for truck drivers. Some facilities may also require drivers to be U.S. citizens.
The Standard: $150-$250
Tip: Verify the carrier’s credentials and provide them at least 72 hours notice before pick up or delivery.
Major metro areas are often congested, experience traffic jams, have parking limitations, and can be difficult to navigate. A metro pickup or delivery accessorial fee is charged to make up for the extra time required to make deliveries in these areas.
The Standard: $150-$250 for FTL
Shipments containing articles that take up more space than a pallet, (greater than or equal to 12 feet in length), incur additional fees since they take up more floor space and require drivers to configure loads to accommodate the shipment.
The Standard: $50-$250 for LTL
If the driver has to package or shrink wrap freight for transportation, the packaging accessorial fee will apply.
The Standard: $50-$100 per pallet
If the driver is required to load or unload a trailer with a pallet jack, the pallet jack fee may apply.
The Standard: $100-150
Tip: All LTL carriers carry a pallet jack on board, but FTL carriers don’t. FTL carriers may need to rent one if it’s needed.
A request for “protect from freezing” services will incur an additional charge per shipment. This will move on a refrigerated trailer with a temperature setting of 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit. Essentially, it acts as a heater instead of a refrigerated unit. In turn, this will consume significantly more fuel and result in higher rates compared to a dry van.
The Standard: Expect the cost to be 20-30% more than a dry van rate you might get during the summer / spring / fall.
Tip: Temperatures are extremely important. If the shipment is going south to north, the unit can remain of for awhile resulting in less fuel consumption and lower rates. Obviously, shipping north to south could adversely affect fuel consumption and rates.
Redelivery is one of the costliest accessorial fees. As the name suggests, a redelivery fee is charged when the carrier can’t complete the delivery, i.e. unload the shipment, through no fault of their own, on the first attempt. While there are many reasons why a carrier may have to re-deliver the shipment, the most common is the receiver requires a delivery appointment which isn’t mentioned in the Bill of Lading (BOL).
The Standard: $100-$500
Dimensions, weight, and class are important details impacting LTL base rates. Incorrect weight or class information will require the carrier to re-weigh and re-classify your shipment. This means additional fees get added to your final freight bill. Making sure you provide accurate shipping details will greatly reduce the chances of being charged this fee.
The Standard: $25 – $50 inspection charge, in addition to additional weight and classification change. Can range between $25 – $300.
Given the complexity of navigating residential neighborhoods, an additional residential fee may be applied to your freight bill if you ship to or from a residence. This fee may also apply if your business or the receiver’s business is in a residential zone.
The Standard: $100-$500
If a driver is required to sort and segregate a shipment, an additional fee is charged. The amount usually starts at a set minimum and increases based on weight and package size.
The Standard: Charged by piece count, or every 100 lbs. Typically, minimum $50 charge, and up to $5 for every 100 lbs. thereafter.
An hourly or daily storage fee may be charged if the driver must store the shipment before it can be delivered. This can be at a third-party warehouse, a port, rail ramp, or the border if the shipment gets put in bond.
The Standard: $75-$250 for dry van. Per day for refrigerated trailer fee.
You’ll be charged extra if your freight requires flatbed truck covers to protect it from the elements. Sizes are based on the height of the cargo. The driver will perform the tarping and strapping or chaining of goods onto the flatbed. It’s the shipper’s responsibility to load the cargo onto the bed, as well as block and brace the shipment with their own dunnage.
The Standard: $100-$200
Tip: Always provide the carrier with accurate dimensions of the cargo, especially the height. Tarp sizes are based on height. 4’ and 6’ tarps are the most common, with 8’ tarps being harder to source. If you’re trying to secure a carrier with 8’ tarps, and a 4’ or 6’ will work, you’re limiting your options carrier or 3PL provider can work with.
You may be charged for tolls during loaded miles. Each toll road or bridge crossing will have a wide range of charges. Tolls and bridge crossings for tractor trailers are assessed per axle, per mile. This rate is typically determined on a state-by-state basis. The northeastern United States has some of the most expensive tolls in the country.
The Standard: $100-$250
Tip: Always do your research based on where your customers and vendors are located so you can provide accurate and profitable. It’s not uncommon for bridges and tolls in the northeast to cost between $100-$250.
If a load falls through after a predetermined cut-off time or a truck is cancelled after such time, you may be charged a fee. A Truck Ordered Not Used (TONU) fee can occur due to requesting the wrong type of equipment or a shipment not being ready on the expected date.
The Standard: $150 Dry Van • $250 – $300 Refrigerated, flatbed, or anything specialized
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