Accessorial charges
Accessorial charges are extra fees on a freight invoice for services or equipment beyond basic transport from one dock to another. They are added to the base freight rate, either at booking or when the carrier bills.
This entry is part of the Fairview Audit glossary. It explains the term so you can read a carrier invoice line by line.
Why accessorial charges matter in a cost review
The base rate is easy to see and easy to compare. Accessorials are smaller lines that can appear on many invoices. Because each one looks minor, they are easy to pass without a check. Over many shipments they can add up to a meaningful part of freight spend.
A review asks whether each extra charge was earned, whether it was agreed in your contract or rate sheet, and whether it was billed correctly. Partner firms in our network look at these lines in freight and parcel reviews.
A plain-words illustration
A shipper books a pallet to a customer that has no loading dock. The carrier brings a truck with a lift gate to lower the pallet to the ground, and the invoice adds a lift gate line. That is a service beyond the basic move, so the charge may be fair, if the shipper agreed to it or the location truly lacked a dock.
Now suppose the same invoice also adds a residential delivery line, but the address is a warehouse. The two lines tell different stories, and a reviewer would ask about the second one.
Common types
- Detention. Time spent waiting at pickup or delivery beyond what was planned.
- Truck ordered, not used. A fee when a booked truck goes unused after the cut-off.
- Extra stops. Added stops on a multi-stop shipment.
- Redelivery. A second delivery attempt after a missed one.
- Lift gate. Equipment for sites without a dock.
- Reclassification and reweigh. Changes after the carrier decides the shipment details were recorded wrongly.
- Inside delivery. Moving goods inside a building.
- Limited access or residential delivery. Locations that are hard to reach or are homes.
Names and rules differ by carrier, so your contract or rate sheet is the guide. [VERIFY: confirm accessorial definitions in each carrier's own tariff]
How it shows up in a review
A partner firm usually asks for carrier contracts, rate sheets and a set of invoices with supporting data. Checks often include:
- whether each charge appears in your agreement
- whether the charge matches the shipment details, such as address type and delivery notes
- whether the same service was billed twice
- whether you were charged for a service you did not order
- whether a reclassification matches the goods that were shipped
Your own shipping records matter here. Proof of delivery times, booking notes and photos can settle a dispute. Small parcel shipping has its own extra fees, which a review also covers. Whether a given firm handles parcel, freight or both is for the firm to state. [CONFIRM: a partner firm supplies and approves its freight and parcel coverage]
Common mistakes
- Paying without matching lines to the contract. A familiar label is not proof of a valid charge.
- Failing to give shipping details up front. Missing notes about dock access can lead to avoidable fees.
- Not keeping delivery records. Without them, you cannot dispute detention or redelivery.
- Ignoring patterns. The same charge on one lane every week may point to a booking habit you can fix.
- Skipping the invoice dispute window. Carriers may limit how long you can question a bill. [VERIFY: check each carrier's claim and dispute deadlines]
Tip: Ask your carrier for a current list of its accessorial charges and compare it with your agreement.
Related terms and pages
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