LTL accessorial charges
An accessorial charge is a fee for a service beyond the standard pickup, line-haul transport and delivery that a freight rate covers. Carriers define these charges in their rules tariffs, and your contract with the carrier can change them.
Where accessorial charges are defined
Each LTL carrier publishes a rules tariff that lists its accessorial services, when they apply and what they cost. One carrier's tariff, for example, defines accessorial charges as fees for services beyond the line-haul, pickup and delivery included in its price (XPO, Tariff CNWY 199, Item 2). Federal law requires a motor carrier to give a shipper a copy of the applicable rules on request (49 U.S.C. § 13710(a)(1)).
Common accessorial charges and what to check
Names, definitions and conditions vary by carrier. The tariff items below come from one carrier's rules tariff (XPO, Tariff CNWY 199) and are examples, not industry rules.
| Charge | When it usually applies | What to check | Example tariff item |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liftgate | The carrier is required or asked to use its lifting equipment to load or unload | Whether the location has a dock, and whether a liftgate was requested | Item 218 |
| Residential | Pickup or delivery at a private residence | Whether the address is a residence under the carrier's definition | Item 224 |
| Limited access | Pickup or delivery at a location the carrier treats as hard to reach | The carrier decides what counts as limited access, so ask for its reason | Item 224 |
| Inside pickup or delivery | The freight is moved beyond the position next to the truck | Whether inside service was requested and performed | Item 216 |
| Notification before delivery | The consignee is contacted before delivery | Whether it was requested; the same tariff includes it at no charge with residential and limited-access deliveries (Item 224) | Item 221 |
| Appointment | Delivery on an agreed date or time | Whether an appointment was requested | Item 253 |
| Detention | Pickup or delivery takes longer than the free time | Arrival and departure times on the driver's records | Items 211–212 |
Before you pay an accessorial charge
- Was the service requested on the bill of lading or when booking?
- Was it performed? Ask for the delivery receipt or the driver's notes.
- Does the charge match your contract or, if you have none, the carrier's current rules tariff?
- Was it already included in the quote?
Then compare the quote and the invoice line by line with the LTL quote vs. invoice checker, and see how to compare an LTL invoice with your quote.
Sources
- Tariff CNWY 199-AK.2: Rules, Regulations, Rates and Charges for Accessorial Services (effective May 18, 2026). XPO Logistics Freight, Inc.. Accessed 2026-11-12.
- 49 U.S.C. § 13710 — Additional billing and collecting practices. Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School (reproduction of the U.S. Code). Accessed 2026-11-12.