Short answer
Accessorial charges are fees for services or events beyond standard pickup and delivery, billed on top of the linehaul rate and fuel surcharge. Common ones are detention, layover, TONU, lumper fees, liftgate, inside or residential delivery, extra stops and redelivery. Each should be priced in advance and backed by proof such as times or receipts.
Why accessorials matter
Accessorials are where margin quietly leaks. A broker who pays a carrier $150 in detention but can’t bill the shipper for it can lose most of the profit on that load.
They’re also a frequent source of invoice disputes. The shipper didn’t expect the charge, the carrier can’t prove it, or nobody approved it in writing. Most of that is avoidable with clear terms on the rate confirmation and the shipper contract.
Common accessorial charges and the proof they need
| Charge | When it applies | Proof usually required |
|---|---|---|
| Detention | Truck held past free time at pickup or delivery | In and out times signed on the BOL or POD, tracking timestamps |
| Layover | Driver held overnight or a full day because the load can’t be worked | Written approval, appointment records |
| TONU (truck order not used) | Load canceled after the truck was dispatched or arrived | Cancellation notice, dispatch record, arrival proof |
| Lumper fee | Third-party crew unloads the truck | Lumper receipt |
| Extra stop | Additional pickup or delivery beyond the first | Signed paperwork for each stop |
| Liftgate | Receiver has no dock, so a liftgate lowers the freight | Delivery notes, service ordered in advance |
| Residential or limited access | Delivery to a home, school, jobsite or similar location | Address type and delivery record |
| Redelivery or reconsignment | Freight refused or redirected to a new address | Refusal notation, new delivery instructions |
| Tarping, driver assist, hazmat | Extra equipment, labor or handling | Load details on the BOL, photos |
Names and definitions vary by carrier tariff and contract.
How brokers handle accessorials
Brokers sit between two contracts. The carrier bills the broker under the rate con. The broker bills the shipper under the customer agreement. The two rarely match exactly, so the rules for each charge need to line up.
Example (illustrative rates): a receiver holds a truck 3 hours past free time and requires a lumper. The carrier bills $180 detention at $60 an hour and a $250 lumper fee with a receipt. The shipper contract pays detention at $75 an hour and reimburses lumpers at cost plus $25. The broker bills the shipper $225 plus $275, $500 total, and pays the carrier $430, keeping $70 on the accessorials.
Common mistakes
- Approving by phone only. Get approval in writing and issue a revised rate con when a charge is added.
- No receipts. A lumper fee without a receipt is often denied.
- Paying the carrier before the shipper agrees. Confirm the charge is billable, or accept that you may absorb it.
- Billing late. Shipper contracts often set a deadline for accessorial requests. For motor carrier bills, 49 U.S.C. 13710 gives a carrier 180 days from receipt of the original bill to issue a bill for additional charges, and gives a shipper 180 days from receipt to contest a bill.
- Different free time on each side. If shippers get three hours free and carriers get two, the broker pays for the gap.
See our full guide to accessorial charges, and entries on detention and TONU.