Accessorial Charges
Also known as: Accessorials, Additional Service Fees, Extra Charges
Definition
Accessorial charges are extra fees that carriers add when shipments require services beyond basic door-to-door transport. These “extras” can quickly add $50-200+ to your shipping cost if you’re not careful.
Common Accessorial Charges
Delivery-Related
| Accessorial | Typical Cost | When Applied |
|---|---|---|
| Residential delivery | $4-6 | Home address delivery |
| Lift gate | $50-100 | No loading dock available |
| Inside delivery | $50-150 | Carrier brings inside building |
| Limited access | $50-100 | Construction sites, farms, etc. |
| Appointment delivery | $25-50 | Specific delivery window |
Handling-Related
| Accessorial | Typical Cost | When Applied |
|---|---|---|
| Reweigh/reclass | $15-30 | Shipment doesn’t match BOL |
| Overlength | $75-200 | Items over 8-12 feet |
| Non-stackable | $50-100 | Freight can’t be stacked |
| Hazmat | $25-100+ | Dangerous goods handling |
| High-value | Varies | Items over $25K |
Administrative
| Accessorial | Typical Cost | When Applied |
|---|---|---|
| COD (Cash on Delivery) | $10-25 | Collect payment at delivery |
| Address correction | $15-25 | Wrong address on label |
| Storage | $25-50/day | Unclaimed shipments |
| Redelivery | $30-75 | Second delivery attempt |
How to Avoid Surprise Accessorials
- Know your destination - Residential? Dock access? Gate codes?
- Accurate BOL - Weight, dimensions, and class must match
- Complete addresses - Include suite numbers, building names
- Communicate requirements - Tell carrier what’s needed upfront
- Get inclusive quotes - Ask carriers to include likely accessorials
Negotiating Accessorial Fees
High-volume shippers can negotiate:
- Capped residential fees
- Bundled accessorial packages
- Waived first occurrence fees
- Reduced lift gate rates
Even small shippers should ask—many carriers will discount accessorials for committed volume.
Accessorials in Your Pricing
If you ship frequently, factor accessorials into product pricing:
- Know your typical accessorial per shipment
- Build average cost into shipping rates
- Charge separately for known extras (lift gate)
A $50 lift gate fee on a $10 shipping rate ruins your margin if you don’t account for it.
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