Accessorial Charges: Definition and Examples

What are accessorial charges?

Accessorial charges are fees for services or conditions beyond the basic transportation covered by a freight rate. Often shortened to “accessorials,” the term is widely used in U.S. trucking and LTL shipping. The applicable charges depend on the carrier's tariff or the agreed quote.

Common examples

Liftgate service: using a lifting platform where suitable dock or loading equipment is unavailable.
Residential or limited-access delivery: serving locations with additional access requirements.
Inside delivery: moving freight beyond the standard delivery point under a defined service scope.
Detention: waiting beyond an agreed allowance.
Redelivery: another delivery attempt when the original attempt cannot be completed.

These services are not interchangeable. A liftgate lowers freight from the vehicle; it does not automatically include moving the goods into a building, upstairs or into a particular room.

Why it matters for a quote

Consider a pallet delivery to a business operating from a residential address with no forklift. Describing it only as a “business delivery” may leave out facts that affect the vehicle, unloading method and price. A complete site description helps the provider quote the required work before dispatch.

There is no universal accessorial price list for all U.S. carriers. Some services may be included in a negotiated rate, while others are billed separately. Ask which conditions are included and how changes will be handled.

Planning a shipment with DAGO Express

Provide the site type, loading equipment, appointment requirements, access restrictions and requested delivery point with the initial request. Confirm any additional service in writing. This definition does not set DAGO Express fees or guarantee that every example service is available.