Why Accessorial Charges Can Increase Your Freight Shipping Costs

Businesses often chase the most beneficial prices offered by shipping companies. However, they ignore the fact that the basic rates that they see in the calculations are rarely the final cost. Different surcharges occur depending on the services that you use. They are called accessorial charges.

What Are Accessorial Charges in Freight Shipping?

When talking about freight forwarding, accessorial charges are extra fees for specific shipment needs or activities beyond basic dock-to-dock transportation. These costs account for additional handling and other operational demands not included in the original arrangement — unlike the base freight rate, which covers the agreed-upon movement of goods.

The need for such services may depend on the cargo characteristics, pickup and delivery conditions, or specific handling requirements. As a result, shipments of similar weight traveling along comparable routes may incur different total shipping expenses.

Accessorial charges are a standard component of freight pricing. Understanding how they differ from the base rate helps companies more accurately evaluate shipping offers and anticipate potential costs before arranging a shipment.

Common Types of Freight Accessorial Charges

Are they the same for all types of shipping? No, each mode of transportation has a different set of possible additional fees. Some of them are typical only for a certain form of shipping, while others are common to all.

LTL Accessorial Charges

Before we explore the question “What are accessorial charges in LTL shipping?”, it is worth noting that LTL (less-than-truckload) transportation involves combining shipments from multiple customers within the same truck.

If you choose this option, be especially careful when reviewing your quote and the LTL accessorial charges it includes. There is a high probability that you can see some of the following services added to the final bill:

1. Liftgate. When the final destination doesn’t have a loading dock or suitable unloading equipment, you may need to order a liftgate. Why is it not included in the basic fee? Not all trucks have a liftgate. So, the need for liftgate service should be indicated upfront. If you do not specify this requirement before the truck arrives, additional fees or delivery delays may occur.
2. Residential pickup and delivery. These fees are charged when cargo is collected from or delivered to a residential address. Separate fees may be charged for limited-access locations, such as schools, hospitals, or certain restricted facilities.
3. Inside delivery. Deliveries made inside a facility may need extra handling, equipment, or labor. Such procedures can increase the time needed. An additional fee is added to the final cost as a result.
4. Overlength fees. A shipment may occupy additional trailer space that could otherwise accommodate other goods if it exceeds the carrier’s standard length limits. To compensate for the loss, an extra fee can be applied.

It is important to distinguish between delivery to a building and moving freight inside it. A carrier may consider the latter a separate service, depending on the terms of transportation. Therefore, customers should clarify the exact delivery point before confirming the shipment.

An additional charge may be incurred when goods need to be moved from one pallet to another. Thus, make sure to specify all the possible extra services that you need in advance to receive an accurate quote.

Truckload Accessorial Charges

The list of freight accessorial charges for truckload shipping is not that short, either. Truck detention is one of the most common. The charge may be imposed when a truck remains at a pickup or delivery site longer than the agreed-upon free waiting period. Of course, there is some leeway included in the initial route planning. However, once the truck exceeds the agreed waiting time, a detention charge may apply.

Layover charges are another potential expense to take into account. A layover fee may be charged if a delay forces the truck and driver to stay at a location overnight or for an extended period. Reasons for these delays may vary (e.g., scheduling problems or unavailable loading facilities).

The “Truck Ordered Not Used” (TONU) situation is quite straightforward. If you have ordered a truck and it has already been dispatched, but the shipment is subsequently cancelled or the vehicle is no longer required, you may be subject to an additional fee. It is a clause in the contract that customers should be aware of.

Even though scheduled stops during transportation are part of the shipping service, an additional fee may apply when extra pickup or delivery locations are added to the agreed route. Besides, fees for redelivery may be charged if the initial delivery attempt was unsuccessful, and the carrier must arrange another one.

Drayage and Intermodal Accessorial Charges

Another type that we will discuss in our guide is drayage accessorial charges. They may arise during containerized shipping between ports, terminals, and inland destinations due to delays, additional equipment requirements, or terminal services. The most common container-related charges are mentioned below:

1. Container detention charges may be incurred if a shipping container remains outside the terminal longer than the permitted free period before its return to the designated location.
2. Demurrage is a fee charged when a container is held at a port or terminal beyond the allotted free time for collection. Demurrage fees may be assessed by an ocean carrier or a terminal operator, depending on the applicable terms.

Demurrage fees are associated with containers remaining at ports or terminals beyond the allotted free time (they are not necessarily accessorial charges imposed by trucking carriers). However, there are other container-related charges, like:

• gate fees for entry and exit processing;
• chassis usage fees for equipment rental;
• congestion surcharges designed to regulate traffic flow and offset delays.

At the beginning, businesses often confuse container and truck detention, even though they are applied to completely different situations. The container detention fee is essentially about how long the unit itself is held before being returned.

On the other hand, truck detention charges may apply when a vehicle and its driver are delayed during loading services or unloading operations and exceed the agreed-upon free waiting period. This fee is about the vehicle’s idle time, not the container’s usage period.

How Do Accessorial Charges Affect Your Final Freight Bill?

Given the variety of accessorial charges and the fact that the fees you usually see per-quote are basic ones, be ready for your final freight bill to change significantly. These fees arise when carriers must perform additional tasks or face unexpected circumstances during any shipping stage. Such circumstances are not uncommon, so you should prepare thoroughly to avoid them (or at least make them less unexpected).

For example, a business receives a freight rate quote of $1,200. An additional service costing $150 becomes necessary during transportation. As a result, the final freight bill increases to $1,350, assuming no other adjustments apply.

How to Avoid Unexpected Accessorial Charges

Sometimes, avoiding unexpected charges is impossible — so you should always be ready for them to be added to the bill. Certain accessorial charges are justified by extra services provided or specific conditions associated with a shipment.

Freight reclassification and reweighing may also affect the final shipping bill, but these billing adjustments should be distinguished from accessorial service fees. Businesses should plan for such possibilities rather than assume they can eliminate them entirely.

At the same time, there are actions that can be taken to minimize accessorial fees, so it is certainly worth knowing how to avoid accessorial charges and applying this knowledge in practice. First, identify any additional services you might require and inform the carrier of these requirements in advance. Before booking ocean freight shipping or other transportation, confirm the required additional services with the provider.

Then, always verify pickup and delivery conditions. Check if the facility has a dock, forklift, or staff available (do this in advance). Such preparation lowers the risk of last-minute requests that lead to additional costs. Furthermore, coordinate the loading and unloading schedules. Truck detention charges may apply if a vehicle waits longer than the agreed-upon free time, depending on the carrier’s terms.

Finally, always review the carrier terms and the freight rate quote in detail. Ensure that the shipment information on the Bill of Lading (BOL) matches the actual characteristics of the cargo. Knowing the potential pitfalls helps businesses understand what is included and what may trigger additional costs.

Conclusion

Accessorial charges are a common and sometimes unavoidable aspect of freight shipping. They can change the final bill significantly, which cannot always be avoided (even with thorough preparation and clear communication with the carrier). Companies may face extra costs for services they didn’t anticipate if those fees aren’t included in the initial quote.

Accessorial charges are not necessarily hidden fees but are adjustments that account for the complexity of real-world logistics processes (e.g., equipment usage fees, special cargo handling requirements, or delays).

Preparation and transparency are the best ways to manage accessorial charges. So, it is critical to communicate clearly the services you need, verify site conditions, and coordinate schedules to minimize the number of unexpected fees you can see in a final bill. You can better control costs and avoid unnecessary challenges when you have a need for different shipping services.

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