What an accessorial is
The line-haul rate covers the basic movement of the freight from one dock to another under the conditions that were quoted. An accessorial is an additional service, or an additional cost that appears when the work falls outside those conditions. Liftgate service, inside pickup or delivery, residential delivery, limited-access sites, appointment services, extra stops, detention, and lumper fees are the ones we are asked about most.
We do not post a menu of accessorial prices on this page. Those amounts vary by mode, carrier, and market, and a number here would not be the number on your shipment. What we can do is explain when they come up and how to declare them so the quote is complete. A complete quote is almost always better than a lower number that changes after pickup.
The extras that show up most often
Liftgate. Needed when the facility does not have a dock and the freight has to be lowered to the ground or raised from it. Common on smaller warehouses, stores, and some food-service locations. If there is no dock and no forklift, say so.
Limited access and residential. Farms, storage units, schools, sites inside a larger campus, and residential addresses often take more time and may require a different kind of truck or service. These appear more often on LTL than on a dedicated trailer, but they should be flagged in either mode.
Inside pickup or delivery, and driver assist. If the driver is expected to bring freight beyond the back of the trailer, or to help load or unload, that is extra work and should be on the quote.
Appointments. Some carriers and LTL tariffs treat a required delivery appointment as a service. Even when it is not a separate line, it changes the plan. See retail and DC delivery appointments.
Detention. When a truck waits beyond the free time allowed for loading or unloading, detention charges can apply. Honest readiness at the dock is the main way to avoid them. On a reefer, waiting also keeps the refrigeration unit running.
Lumpers. Many grocery and food-service warehouses require a third-party unloader. If you already know a lumper is involved, tell us. The way the fee is handled should be clear before the truck arrives.
Extra stops. A second pickup or delivery is not the same shipment as a single stop. Include every stop, in order, when you request the quote.
LTL and truckload treat these differently
Accessorials show up more often, and more itemized, on LTL, because the tariff is built around terminal handling and specific services. Full truckload quotes should still include dock constraints, appointment rules, and any driver-assist or lumper needs, especially at grocery and retail distribution centers. Leaving them off does not make them free.
If you want help lowering the total bill, the useful move is to avoid unnecessary services — for example, shipping to a dock-equipped warehouse instead of a liftgate location when you have the choice — not to hide a service you still need. See how to reduce shipping costs.
What to put in the notes
- Liftgate, inside service, or driver assist
- Residential or limited-access locations
- Appointment or receiving-hour rules
- Lumper or gate procedures
- Extra stops, in order
- Any known detention risk, such as a receiver famous for long yard times