Accessorial Charges

Accessorial charges are additional fees that can pop up when you're shipping something. Think of them as extra services or special situations that come with their own costs. For instance, if you need your package delivered inside a building instead of just at the door, that might come with an extra charge. Or if the delivery requires a special truck to lift heavy items, there could be a fee for that too.

These charges cover things beyond the basic pick-up and drop-off and make sure that any special needs or circumstances are taken care of. So, when you're planning a shipment, it's smart to consider these charges to avoid any surprises and budget accurately.

Determine Accessorial Charges

Identify Special Needs: Think about any extra services or specific requirements your shipment might need. This could be things like inside delivery, liftgate use, or appointment scheduling.
Check Carrier Information: Look up the carrier's website or contact their customer service to find out what additional services they offer and their associated charges.
Match Services: Match the special needs of your shipment with the services offered by the carrier. This will help you understand which accessorial charges might apply.
Get Quotes: When you're getting quotes for shipping, make sure to ask about any potential accessorial charges. This will give you a clearer picture of the total cost.
Communicate Clearly: When booking your shipment, clearly communicate any special requirements or services needed. This ensures that the carrier is prepared and you're not hit with unexpected charges.
Review Invoices: After the shipment is completed, review the invoice to ensure that any accessorial charges are correctly applied.

Remember, accessorial charges can vary between carriers, so it's important to do your research and communicate your needs effectively to avoid any surprises in terms of costs.

Accessorial charges are extra fees or charges added to a standard transportation service to cover additional services or special circumstances beyond the usual pickup and delivery. These charges can include services like inside delivery, liftgate usage, storage, fuel surcharges, appointment scheduling, and more. Accessorial charges reflect any extra efforts or resources needed to complete the shipment, ensuring that specific requirements or conditions are met. It's important to be aware of these charges when planning shipments to avoid unexpected costs and ensure accurate budgeting for transportation services.

Types of Accessorial Charges

Here is a comprehensive list of common types of accessorial charges:

Liftgate Service: This charge applies when a liftgate-equipped truck is required to lower heavy or bulky items to the ground at the pickup or delivery location.
Inside Delivery: When items need to be delivered beyond the usual drop-off point, such as inside a building, up stairs, or to a specific room, this charge may be applied.
Residential Delivery: This charge covers the extra effort and time needed for delivering items to a residential address.
Appointment Delivery: If you need a specific delivery time arranged in advance, carriers might charge a fee for scheduling an appointment.
Re-Delivery or Re-Route: If the carrier needs to attempt delivery more than once due to unsuccessful initial attempts, this charge may be incurred.
Limited Access Locations: For delivery or pickup locations that are challenging to access (e.g., construction sites), carriers may apply this charge.
Expedited Service: When faster delivery is required than the standard, expedited service charges cover the cost of prioritizing the shipment.
Detention or Waiting Time: If there's a delay at the pickup or delivery location that requires the driver to wait, a detention charge may apply.
Overlength or Oversize: For shipments that exceed standard size limits, carriers might apply extra fees due to the unique handling required.
Hazardous Materials Handling: When shipping hazardous materials, additional charges cover the special precautions, handling, and documentation needed.
Customs Clearance: For international shipments, customs clearance fees cover the process of getting items through customs.
Refrigeration or Temperature-Controlled: If items require temperature-controlled transportation, carriers may apply charges for maintaining specific conditions.
Redelivery Attempt: If a shipment requires multiple attempts for delivery due to recipient unavailability, this charge might be added.
Address Correction: If an incorrect or incomplete address necessitates corrections, a fee may be applied.
Non-Business Hours: Deliveries or pickups made outside of standard business hours might incur additional charges.
Cross-Docking: If items need to be transferred from one truck to another at a cross-docking facility, a charge might apply.
Storage: If items need to be stored at a carrier's facility before delivery, storage fees can be assessed.
Sort and Segregate: If items need to be sorted or segregated for specific delivery routes, charges may be applied.
Additional Handling: Items that require special handling due to fragility, shape, or other characteristics might incur this charge.
Dismantling or Assembly: If items need to be assembled or disassembled during delivery, a fee may be applied.

Remember, accessorial charges can vary based on the carrier, the type of shipment, and the specific circumstances. It's essential to communicate with your carrier to understand and account for potential accessorial charges when planning your shipments.

Application of Accessorial Charges

Accessorial charges are applied to cover the additional services or special circumstances that go beyond the standard transportation of goods. These services require extra effort, resources, time, or expertise from the carrier to ensure a successful and smooth delivery process. Here's why these charges are applicable:

Extra Services: Accessorial charges compensate carriers for providing specific services beyond basic transportation, such as inside delivery, liftgate service, or residential delivery.
Time and Effort: Some situations, like waiting times or re-delivery attempts, involve additional time and effort for the carrier, which is not part of their standard operations.
Special Handling: Certain shipments, such as hazardous materials or oversized items, require unique handling procedures to ensure safety and compliance with regulations.
Customs and Documentation: For international shipments, customs clearance involves paperwork, documentation, and coordination to move goods across borders.
Equipment and Facilities: Accessorial charges cover the use of specialized equipment (like liftgates) or facilities (like temperature-controlled storage) that are not part of routine transportation.
Non-Standard Locations: Locations that are difficult to access, such as construction sites or remote areas, may require carriers to navigate challenging conditions.
Efficiency and Priority: Expedited service or appointment delivery ensures quicker or timed deliveries, which require carriers to adjust their operations to meet specific requirements.
Accuracy and Verification: Address corrections, sort and segregate charges, and additional handling fees help ensure accuracy and verification of shipments.
Customer Experience: Accessorial charges contribute to enhancing the overall customer experience by providing tailored solutions for unique shipping needs.

In essence, these charges enable carriers to accommodate a wide range of shipping scenarios and ensure that the delivery process meets customer expectations, regulatory requirements, and safety standards. By applying accessorial charges, carriers can offer a higher level of service, adapt to different circumstances, and maintain the efficiency of their operations.