STEP 3 OF 4 · FREE FREIGHT COST TOOL
Estimate common freight accessorials such as liftgate, residential delivery, inside delivery, detention, storage, limited access, hazmat and fuel surcharge.
Hidden fees and extra service charges
Used for context only in this static estimator.
NEXT STEP · STEP 4 OF 4
After RPM, fuel and accessorials, stress-test the quote against market rate, deadhead and fuel movement.
Accessorial charges are extra freight fees for services or conditions outside the standard linehaul move. These charges often appear when a shipment needs special equipment, extra labor, waiting time, non-standard delivery, or extra handling.
Accessorials matter because they can turn a profitable-looking quote into a weak load. They should be checked before final rate per mile, margin or quote risk decisions.
Applies when pickup or delivery needs a liftgate truck.
Added when delivery is to a home or non-commercial location.
Waiting time beyond the free time allowed by the carrier.
Schools, farms, construction sites, military bases and similar locations.
These are the planning defaults built into the calculator above — the amounts it pre-fills before you adjust them. They are mid-range US LTL planning figures, not a carrier tariff: your contract, carrier and lane can price each item well above or below these defaults.
| Accessorial | Calculator default | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel surcharge | 18% of linehaul | Fuel cost recovery above the base fuel price in the rate. |
| Liftgate | $125 flat | Pickup or delivery where no dock or forklift is available. |
| Residential delivery | $85 flat | Delivery to a home or non-commercial address. |
| Inside delivery | $95 flat | Freight moved beyond the threshold / inside the premises. |
| Detention | $150 (2 hrs) | Driver and equipment held beyond free loading/unloading time. |
| Storage | $85 per day | Freight held at the carrier terminal beyond free time. |
| Limited access | $110 flat | Schools, farms, construction sites, military bases and similar. |
| Hazmat fee | $95 flat | Handling and paperwork for declared hazardous materials. |
| Appointment delivery | $65 flat | Delivery scheduled for a specific date/time window. |
| Reweigh / reclass buffer | $75 flat | Cushion for carrier reweigh or reclassification adjustments. |
Detention typically starts after 1–2 hours of free time and layover/TONU (truck ordered, not used) charges are usually negotiated per incident rather than flat-rated, which is why they are not pre-filled. Always confirm accessorial pricing in the carrier agreement before quoting.
It is an extra charge for a service or condition beyond normal pickup, linehaul and delivery.
They are often missed during quoting. If you do not pass them through or price them in, they reduce profit.
Yes. Both are common accessorials, especially in LTL freight.
Sometimes. It depends on carrier agreement, customer terms, shipment profile and volume.