A special delivery fee is an additional shipping charge applied when a shipment requires non-standard handling, timing, location access, or delivery service. It may apply to urgent deliveries, after-hours delivery, remote areas, residential delivery, inside delivery, oversized freight, restricted-access locations, or shipments needing special equipment. In logistics, this fee helps carriers recover the extra cost of labour, routing, handling, or service requirements beyond a normal delivery.
A special delivery fee covers carrier costs for deliveries requiring non-standard arrangements such as appointment scheduling, white-glove service, room-of-choice placement, or delivery outside normal business hours.
- White-glove: two-person delivery team, unpacking, assembly, debris removal
- Appointment delivery: guaranteed delivery within a specific time window
- After-hours or weekend delivery: premium for deliveries outside standard carrier hours
- Room-of-choice: carrier brings goods to a specific room rather than the threshold
For related logistics context, see glossary entries on Accessorial Charges, Final Mile Delivery, Residential Delivery Fee, and Liftgate Fee.
