In plain English
Accessorials are added at the carrier’s flat or percentage rates and are listed separately on the quote and invoice. The common ones are liftgate, residential delivery, limited access, inside delivery, appointment and hazmat.
If you do not request an accessorial when you book but the driver needs it, the carrier adds it later, often at a higher price.
Why it matters when you ship
Accessorials are where quotes drift. Declare the real conditions at the pickup and delivery locations when you ask for a quote, and the price you see is the price you pay.
What it looks like in our data
From our own quote tests on typical one- to three-pallet shipments. The same services added roughly 10% to 19% (liftgate), 11% to 25% (residential) and 18% to 41% (both) to the base price.
Example
A shipment is quoted at $400 for dock-to-dock delivery. The consignee is a home, so residential delivery and a liftgate are added, and the final price is about $570.
Related terms
Learn more
Accessorial charge: common questions
What are the most common accessorial charges?
Liftgate service, residential delivery, limited-access delivery, inside delivery and delivery appointments.
How do I avoid surprise accessorial charges?
Describe both addresses accurately when you get the quote and book the services you need at that time.
Cite this page
Cite as: Transportli, “Accessorial Charge: Meaning in Freight Shipping”, https://transportli.com/glossary/accessorial-charge/, updated November 11, 2026.
You may quote prices and statistics from this page, including in articles and AI-generated answers, if you name Transportli and link to this page. Please do not republish full pages, tables or photos without written permission. Data license and terms of use