Accessorial charges are the extra fees beyond the base linehaul rate that cover additional services, delays, or special handling during a shipment. They are one of the most disputed areas in freight billing -- shippers complain they are excessive, carriers insist they do not cover the true cost, and brokers get caught in the middle. Understanding exactly what each charge covers and what the market rate is in 2026 eliminates surprises and speeds up payment.
What Counts as an Accessorial Charge
An accessorial is any service or cost that falls outside the standard pickup-at-dock, drive-to-destination, deliver-at-dock model. If the carrier has to wait, do extra work, use special equipment, or deviate from the original plan, there is likely an accessorial for it.
The key rule: accessorials should be agreed upon before the load moves. Rate confirmations and carrier-shipper contracts should list every possible accessorial with its rate. Disputes almost always arise when an accessorial was not mentioned upfront and appears on the invoice after delivery.
Complete Accessorial Charge Guide with 2026 Rates
Detention
What it is: Time the driver spends waiting at a facility beyond the agreed free time for loading or unloading.
Typical 2026 rates: $50-$100 per hour after 2 hours of free time. Some carriers charge $75/hr starting after the first hour of free time. LTL carriers typically allow 30 minutes of free time.
Why it matters: Detention is the single largest accessorial expense in the industry. The FMCSA estimates that drivers spend an average of 3.4 hours at each facility. At $75/hour beyond 2 hours of free time, that is $105 per stop -- and many loads have 2-4 stops.
How to document it: Record arrival time, check-in time, loading/unloading start time, and departure time. GPS timestamps from ELD data are now accepted as evidence in detention disputes.
Driver Assist / Lumper Fees
What it is: When the driver or a third-party lumper service is required to help load or unload freight, rather than the facility handling it.
Typical 2026 rates: $50-$200 per occurrence. Driver assist is usually on the lower end ($50-$100). Professional lumper services at major grocery and retail distribution centers range from $150-$200 and are often mandatory.
Important note: Many carriers require advance authorization before paying lumper fees. Drivers should always get a receipt from the lumper service -- ComChek or EFS codes are the standard payment method.
Truck Ordered Not Used (TONU)
What it is: A fee charged when a carrier dispatches a truck to pick up a load, but the load cancels, is not ready, or the shipper refuses the truck upon arrival.
Typical 2026 rates: $150-$350 flat fee. Dry van TONU runs $150-$250, reefer TONU is $250-$350 (because the reefer was pre-cooled and fuel was consumed). Some carriers charge mileage for deadhead to the pickup location on top of the flat fee.
Liftgate Service
What it is: Use of a hydraulic liftgate to raise or lower freight from ground level to the trailer bed, typically at locations without loading docks.
Typical 2026 rates: $75-$150 per occurrence. Pickup liftgate and delivery liftgate are often billed separately. Heavy liftgate (over 2,500 lbs capacity) adds a premium of $25-$50.
Common locations: Residential deliveries, small retail stores, restaurants, construction sites, trade shows.
Residential Delivery / Pickup
What it is: Delivery to or pickup from a location in a residential area, which typically lacks a loading dock and may have narrow streets or low-clearance obstacles.
Typical 2026 rates: $75-$150 per occurrence. This charge often appears alongside a liftgate charge because most residences require one.
What qualifies: Any address classified as residential by the USPS or Canada Post. Some carriers also apply this fee to home-based businesses.
Inside Delivery
What it is: Carrier delivers the freight beyond the threshold of the first door or loading dock, placing it inside the building at a specified location.
Typical 2026 rates: $100-$200 per occurrence. Flights of stairs add $50-$75 per flight. Some carriers cap inside delivery at a certain distance from the door (typically 50-100 feet).
Not included: Unpacking, assembly, or debris removal. These are white-glove services priced separately.
Limited Access / Difficult Access
What it is: Delivery to or pickup from locations that are hard to reach with standard trucking equipment -- construction sites, military bases, mines, farms, prisons, schools, churches, or locations without paved roads.
Typical 2026 rates: $75-$125 per occurrence. Carrier definitions of "limited access" vary widely and this is one of the most frequently disputed accessorials.
Layover
What it is: When a driver is required to wait overnight or longer at a location because the load is not ready or the appointment is delayed to the next business day.
Typical 2026 rates: $250-$400 per day. This covers the driver's time and the opportunity cost of the truck sitting idle. A layover at an urban location with readily available parking costs less than one in a rural area where the driver must find paid parking.
Re-Delivery / Return-to-Shipper
What it is: A second delivery attempt after the first attempt fails (consignee refused, facility closed, wrong address, no one available to receive).
Typical 2026 rates: $150-$300 per occurrence plus any additional mileage. If the freight must be returned to the shipper, the carrier typically charges the original linehaul rate again.
Hazmat Surcharge
What it is: Additional fee for transporting hazardous materials, covering the extra regulatory compliance, driver training, placarding, equipment requirements, and liability exposure.
Typical 2026 rates: $150-$500 depending on the class of hazardous material, quantity, and route. Explosives (Class 1) and radioactive materials (Class 7) command the highest premiums. Standard flammable liquids (Class 3) are on the lower end.
Reefer Fuel Surcharge
What it is: The cost of diesel fuel consumed by the refrigeration unit during transit. Separate from the tractor fuel surcharge, which covers the truck itself.
Typical 2026 rates: $100-$300 depending on trip length and temperature setting. Frozen loads (-10F to 0F) consume roughly 30% more reefer fuel than fresh loads (34F-38F). A 1,500-mile reefer run at frozen temps typically costs $200-$250 in reefer fuel.
Tarping
What it is: Covering flatbed freight with tarps to protect it from weather during transit.
Typical 2026 rates: $75-$150 per tarp. A standard flatbed load might require 2-4 tarps. Smoke tarps (covering the front of the load only) are $50-$75. Steel coil tarps and heavy-duty lumber tarps are at the higher end.
Safety note: Tarping is one of the most physically demanding and dangerous tasks in trucking. Falls from flatbed trailers during tarping account for a significant number of driver injuries each year.
Stop-Off Charges
What it is: Each additional stop beyond the standard single pickup / single delivery. Multi-stop loads require more time, more BOL handling, and more risk of damage or mix-ups.
Typical 2026 rates: $50-$100 per additional stop. Some carriers charge a flat per-stop fee plus detention time at each stop. A 4-stop delivery at $75/stop adds $225 to the load cost before any detention at those stops.
Other Common Accessorials
| Accessorial | Typical 2026 Rate |
|---|---|
| Blind shipment (hiding shipper/consignee info) | $25-$50 |
| Sort and segregate | $50-$100 |
| Pallet exchange | $10-$15 per pallet |
| Overlength (over 8 feet) | $50-$100 |
| Trade show delivery | $200-$500 |
| Weekend/holiday delivery | $200-$400 |
| Storage (per day after free time) | $50-$100/day |
How to Bill Accessorials Properly
1. Document Everything in Real Time
The biggest reason accessorial disputes fail is lack of documentation. Timestamps, photos, and signatures collected at the time of the event are 10 times more persuasive than after-the-fact claims.
- Use ELD GPS data to prove arrival and departure times
- Photograph facility conditions, wait time boards, lumper receipts
- Get facility personnel to sign detention logs or driver assist records
- Save all text messages and emails related to delays or changes
2. Include Accessorials in Rate Confirmations
Every rate confirmation should list the accessorial schedule. At minimum, include rates for detention, TONU, lumper, liftgate, and layover. If the shipper or broker pushes back, negotiate -- but get the agreed rates in writing before dispatch.
3. Invoice Promptly
Submit accessorial invoices within 7 days of delivery. Many brokers and shippers have contractual deadlines (typically 30-90 days) after which they will reject accessorial claims entirely. The longer you wait, the harder it is to collect.
Contract Language That Protects You
Whether you are a carrier or a shipper, your contract should address these accessorial scenarios:
- Free time definition -- Exactly how many minutes/hours before detention starts, and does the clock start at arrival or at check-in?
- Notification requirements -- Must the driver notify the broker/shipper before detention accrues?
- Rate escalation -- Does the hourly detention rate increase after a certain number of hours?
- Caps -- Is there a maximum total accessorial charge per load?
- Payment terms -- Are accessorials paid on the same cycle as linehaul or on a separate timeline?
- Dispute resolution -- What is the process and deadline for contesting an accessorial charge?
Resolving Accessorial Disputes
When a dispute arises:
- Review the rate confirmation -- Does it list the specific accessorial and rate?
- Check documentation -- Is there timestamped proof (ELD, photos, signed logs)?
- Communicate directly -- A phone call resolves more disputes than a chain of emails
- Escalate formally -- If informal resolution fails, file a formal claim with supporting documentation
- Consider the relationship -- Burning a good shipper or carrier relationship over a $75 charge is rarely worth it
Track Accessorials with TruckerPro
TruckerPro's invoicing system handles accessorials natively:
- Pre-loaded accessorial rate schedules per customer and per lane
- Drivers log detention time and upload lumper receipts from the mobile app
- Automatic accessorial calculation based on ELD timestamps
- Accessorial line items appear on invoices with supporting documentation attached
- Reporting on accessorial revenue by type, customer, and lane
Accessorials are not bonus revenue -- they are compensation for real costs. Know what to charge, document the services provided, and invoice promptly. That is the formula for getting paid.