What are accessorial services?

How knowing what accessorial services you need will save your budget

It’s not uncommon for shippers new to less-than-truckload shipping to get a quote from their carrier, only to have the final bill contain significant additional expenses. These shippers are learning the hard way about the various fees associated with LTL shipping, including accessorial fees.

Accessorial fees are additional charges that carriers impose to cover any additional services that are required beyond a basic delivery. These fees are charged on top of the base rate and can quickly add up.

There are numerous types of accessorial fees, and they differ from carrier to carrier. The amounts charged for individual accessorial fees can vary widely. Shippers who are aware of what accessorials their shipment will require and communicate this information to their carrier before booking know what they’ll be paying up front and can choose carriers that offer the lowest fees for those accessorials.

Even if shippers don’t request any accessorials, when the carrier completes the delivery, they will charge the shippers for any accessorials that were needed. Unless the shipper can prove that the accessorials they were charged for were unnecessary, they have no choice but to pay these additional fees. This can lead to budget overruns and eat into profitability for businesses that use LTL shipping.  

Some of the most common accessorial fees include the following:

• ‍Liftgate: A liftgate is a hydraulic platform attached to the back of a truck or trailer that is used to lift heavy items onto or off of the vehicle. Liftgates are needed when a pickup or delivery location does not have a loading dock or forklift. However, not all trucks have liftgates, so it’s important to communicate to carriers that one will be required. If they send a truck without a liftgate to pick up or deliver freight where one is needed, the shipper will be charged for the liftgate and have to pay a redelivery fee as well. Liftgate fees are generally between $100 and $250. ‍
• Limited access: When shipments are picked up in or delivered to locations that are difficult for carriers to access or require additional time and effort to make a delivery or pickup, a limited access fee is charged. These include, but are not limited to, rural areas, construction sites, schools, military bases, government buildings, and places of worship. Limited access fees can range from $50 to over $1,000, depending on specific pickup and delivery locations and the carrier used. ‍
• Residential delivery: While it may seem like a clear concept, defining what constitutes a residential delivery is surprisingly nuanced. The definition also varies from one carrier to another. As a general rule, a location in a residential area, regardless of whether or not it is itself a residence, will be considered residential and incur a residential delivery fee. Shippers who believe their pickup or delivery location may be residential should check with their carrier or 3PL before booking in order to get an accurate quote. The amount of the fee is normally between $100 and $500, but can be more. ‍
• Inside delivery: Cargo delivered via LTL generally is transported from dock to dock or curb to curb. For large commercial locations with shipping docks, these are where shipments are picked up and delivered. For other locations, like smaller businesses or residences, freight is picked up and delivered at the curb. Carriers do offer an accessorial service for those who would like their deliveries to be made closer to, or inside a building: inside delivery, which isn’t always exactly what it sounds like. Truck drivers generally can’t enter a residence for liability reasons, but can leave shipments in front of a garage or front door. For commercial deliveries, freight may be left just inside a door to the building. The cost of inside delivery is often determined by the weight of the shipment, and can range from $100 to $1,500 or more. ‍
• Advance notification: If the recipient or an LTL shipment needs to ensure they are available to receive the shipment, or they need to make arrangements for equipment or personnel to be available to unload the shipment, it’s helpful to be notified before delivery. Carriers offer to call before delivery as an accessorial fee that usually doesn’t cost more than $75, and often much less. ‍
• Appointment needed: If a notification before delivery isn’t enough, LTL carriers also offer to set appointments for delivery. This is especially helpful for locations that receive a large number of deliveries each day. With appointments, they can manage the flow of trucks and freight while avoiding getting backed up. This accessorial generally ranges from $50 to $150, but can be more.

It’s essential for shippers to understand the various accessorial fees associated with LTL shipping. To avoid unexpected charges, shippers must communicate with their carrier before booking about any additional services that may be required. Shippers should also consider working a 3PL like Koho, whose team of LTL experts can help shippers identify and anticipate the accessorials they’ll need and avoid any unpleasant surprises on their bills.