Accessorial charges are the most common way an LTL quote turns into a bigger invoice — not because carriers are hiding fees, but because most shippers don’t know which conditions trigger them until the bill arrives. Check what applies to your shipment below to see it coming before you book.
Accessorials that likely apply
Nothing checked yet suggests extra accessorial fees — looks like a straightforward dock-to-dock move.
Liftgate pickup
The carrier uses a hydraulic lift to load freight from ground level when there's no dock or forklift at pickup. Standard equipment on most LTL trucks, but billed as an accessorial because it adds time and handling risk.
Liftgate delivery
Same as liftgate pickup, but at the delivery end — used to lower freight to ground level when there's no dock or forklift to receive it.
Residential pickup
Freight moving from a home instead of a business address. Residential stops usually take longer and often need a smaller truck, so carriers price them higher than a commercial pickup.
Residential delivery
Same idea on the delivery side — homes don't have loading docks or staff to help unload, so residential delivery typically comes bundled with a liftgate fee too.
Limited access
Locations a standard 53' trailer can't easily reach, or that need extra coordination — schools, military bases, construction sites, farms, storage facilities, and event or trade show venues all fall into this category.
Inside delivery
Carrying freight past the dock or front door, rather than leaving it at the nearest accessible point. Because it takes extra labor and time, it's priced separately from standard curbside or dock delivery.
Appointment / delivery notification
The carrier calls ahead to schedule a delivery window instead of showing up unannounced. Common for businesses with limited receiving hours or residential deliveries where someone needs to be home.
This shows which fees commonly apply, not exact amounts — accessorial pricing varies by carrier and lane. Get a quote for a rate that already accounts for what you check above.
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Get a Quote →What are accessorial charges?
An accessorial charge is any fee added on top of the base linehaul rate for a service beyond a standard dock-to-dock pickup and delivery. LTL base rates assume both ends have a loading dock, a forklift, and someone ready to load or unload during normal business hours — anything outside that (a home address, a liftgate, a hard-to-reach site, a scheduled appointment) gets priced separately.
Why accessorials add up faster than shippers expect
A single shipment can stack multiple accessorials at once — a residential delivery, for example, almost always needs a liftgate too, and might also need an appointment if no one’s reliably home. None of these are hidden fees; they’re standard line items carriers publish in their tariffs. The surprise usually comes from not checking for them at quote time, not from the fee itself.
Frequently asked questions
Can I avoid accessorial charges entirely?
Only if both pickup and delivery are commercial addresses with a loading dock or forklift, during normal business hours, with no special handling needed. Anything outside that will carry at least one accessorial — it’s not avoidable, just something to plan for.
Do accessorial charges cost the same with every carrier?
No — accessorial pricing varies by carrier and lane, which is why this tool shows what likely applies rather than a dollar figure. Your quote will reflect the actual charge for your specific route and carrier.
What’s the difference between residential delivery and limited access?
Residential means the address is a home. Limited access refers to site characteristics that make delivery harder regardless of whether it’s a home or business — schools, military bases, construction sites, farms, storage facilities, and event venues all qualify, and can stack with a residential fee if both apply.
If I’m not sure whether my location has a dock, what should I do?
Default to checking “no loading dock” when you request a quote. It’s cheaper to find out you didn’t need a liftgate than to have the truck show up without one and get turned away or hit with an added fee on the spot.