Accessorials: Accessorial Charges
Fees for services beyond standard pickup-to-delivery, such as liftgate, residential, or inside delivery.
Accessorial charges cover any service outside a carrier's standard dock-to-dock transportation — liftgate service, residential pickup/delivery, inside delivery, limited-access locations, appointment scheduling, and detention are all common accessorials. They're priced separately from the base linehaul rate and are one of the largest sources of variance between a quoted rate and a final invoice.
Who publishes it
Set per-carrier; published in each carrier's accessorial tariff.
How to read it
- Common LTL accessorials: liftgate ($75–$150), residential delivery ($75–$125), inside delivery, limited access (schools, construction sites, military bases).
- Accessorials not disclosed at the time of booking are the most common cause of a final invoice exceeding the original quote.
- Always confirm delivery-location details (residential? liftgate needed? appointment required?) before booking to get an accurate all-in quote.
Why it matters
The gap between a "cheap" quote and the actual invoice is almost always accessorial charges that weren't disclosed upfront. Shippers who standardize how they capture delivery-location details at booking time see far fewer billing disputes than those who let carriers apply accessorials after the fact.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common LTL accessorial charges?
Liftgate service, residential delivery, inside delivery, limited-access locations, and appointment/notification fees are the most frequently billed accessorials.
How do I avoid surprise accessorial charges?
Disclose full delivery details — residential vs. commercial, liftgate needed, appointment required, limited access — at the time of booking. Undisclosed accessorials discovered at delivery are billed after the fact and are difficult to dispute.
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