Accessorial charges are additional freight fees for services or conditions that go beyond standard transportation from pickup to delivery. In logistics, accessorials may include liftgate service, inside delivery, residential delivery, detention, storage, reweighing, redelivery, limited-access delivery, fuel surcharges, appointment scheduling, or special handling. These charges help carriers recover extra labour, equipment, time, risk, or administrative costs. Shippers should review accessorials carefully because they can significantly change the final invoice from the original freight quote.
Accessorial charges are fees added to a base freight rate for services outside standard pickup and delivery, covering extra equipment, labor, or time required to complete a shipment.
Common Examples
- Liftgate service
- Inside delivery
- Residential delivery
- Fuel surcharge
- Detention and layover
- Redelivery
- Oversize or overweight surcharge
Providing accurate cargo details upfront helps avoid unexpected accessorial charges on the final invoice.
For related logistics context, see glossary entries on Liftgate Fee, Residential Delivery Fee, Fuel Surcharge, and Detention.
