Freight costs can increase between the initial quote and the final invoice, even when the shipment’s weight, dimensions, and destination ZIP code haven’t changed.
One common reason is an accessorial charge that wasn’t included when the shipment was booked.
For example, a business regularly ships pallets to a customer’s warehouse. The next order goes to the customer’s new retail location instead. The shipment details are entered as usual, but the new location doesn’t have a loading dock. The carrier needs a liftgate to unload the pallets, and the additional service appears on the final invoice.
That charge could have been included in the original quote if the delivery requirements had been confirmed before booking.
For businesses shipping less-than-truckload (LTL) freight, understanding accessorial charges is an important part of estimating shipping costs accurately.
What LTL Accessorial Charges Are and Who Sets Them
Standard LTL shipping rates generally cover transportation between locations equipped to load and unload freight using a dock or appropriate equipment.
When a shipment requires additional services, the carrier may apply accessorial charges.
These services can include liftgate pickup or delivery, residential delivery, limited access delivery, inside delivery, and redelivery.
Each LTL carrier establishes its own accessorial pricing through a published rules tariff. Depending on the service, charges may include a minimum fee, a rate per hundred pounds (hundredweight, or cwt), and a maximum charge.
As a result, two carriers offering similar base transportation rates may have significantly different total costs once additional services are included.
Fuel surcharges can also affect the final shipping cost. For more information, see our article on why freight bills increased in 2026.
Common LTL Accessorial Charges
The following examples use published accessorial rates from XPO and Estes. These are tariff rates before any applicable negotiated discounts.
Liftgate Fee
A liftgate is a hydraulic platform attached to a truck that allows freight to be lowered from the trailer to ground level.
Liftgate service is typically needed when the pickup or delivery location doesn’t have a loading dock or suitable equipment to handle palletized freight.
XPO lists a $274 minimum charge, a rate of $14.20 per hundredweight, and a maximum charge of $682.
Estes lists a $75 minimum, a rate of $4.95 per hundredweight, and a maximum charge of $350.
Liftgate service is common for deliveries to retail stores, small commercial locations, and construction sites.
Businesses involved in retail logistics and construction shipping should confirm unloading requirements before requesting a freight quote.
Residential Delivery and Limited Access Delivery
Carriers may charge additional fees when freight is delivered to residential addresses or locations with restricted access.
Residential delivery can apply to private homes and home-based businesses.
Limited access charges may apply to schools, farms, churches, construction sites, and other locations where delivery conditions differ from those at a standard commercial facility.
XPO lists a rate of $16.90 per hundredweight with a $191 minimum for residential and limited access services.
Estes lists residential delivery at $8.50 per hundredweight with a $75 minimum, while limited access delivery carries a flat $85 charge.
Carrier definitions vary, so it’s important to confirm how the destination is classified. Some residential deliveries may also require liftgate service.
Inside Delivery
Standard freight delivery generally ends at the designated unloading point. If the driver is required to move freight beyond that point, an inside delivery charge may apply.
This can include moving freight into a building, stockroom, or another designated receiving area, subject to the carrier’s service rules.
XPO lists inside delivery at $18.50 per hundredweight with a $190 minimum.
Estes lists a rate of $10.25 per hundredweight with a $100 minimum.
Inside delivery is particularly relevant for eCommerce businesses shipping large or bulky products to customers who need delivery beyond a standard unloading location.
How Missing Delivery Details Increase Freight Shipping Costs
An accessorial charge can become more expensive when the required service isn’t identified before the shipment is dispatched.
For example, if a driver arrives at a location without a loading dock and the truck isn’t equipped with a liftgate, the carrier may be unable to complete the delivery.
The shipment may need to return to the terminal and be scheduled for another delivery attempt.
Depending on the carrier’s rules, the shipper could then be responsible for both the additional delivery service and a redelivery charge.
Consider a 1,500-pound shipment (15 hundredweight) going to a home-based business without a loading dock.
If the shipment was originally booked as a standard commercial delivery, the additional charges could look like this.
At XPO’s published rates, the liftgate charge would be $274, residential delivery would add $253.50, and redelivery would cost another $294. That brings the total additional charges to $821.50, excluding the original freight rate.
At Estes’s published rates, the liftgate charge would be $75, residential delivery would add $127.50, and redelivery would cost $150. The total additional charges would be $352.50.
Based on these rates, the difference in additional charges between the two carriers is $469 for the same shipment.
This is why comparing base freight rates alone doesn’t always identify the least expensive shipping option. A carrier with a lower transportation rate may charge more for the services required at pickup or delivery.
In our earlier Q1 freight pricing breakdown, we examined a shipment where a $380 quote increased to $545 after liftgate, limited access, and residential charges were added.
That’s a 43% increase over the original quote.
Including the correct accessorial services when requesting a quote makes it easier to compare the expected total costs across carriers.
Three Things to Confirm Before Booking an LTL Shipment
Even when shipping to an existing customer, it’s worth confirming the delivery conditions before booking.
1. Does the Location Have a Loading Dock?
Confirm whether the pickup and delivery locations have accessible loading docks or equipment capable of handling the shipment.
A location may have a dock but still require liftgate service if the dock is unavailable during the scheduled delivery.
If the freight needs to be unloaded at ground level, include liftgate service when requesting the quote.
2. Is the Address Commercial, Residential, or Limited Access?
Confirm the type of location receiving the freight.
A customer may have moved to a new address, opened another location, or requested delivery to a job site.
These changes can affect the carrier’s accessorial charges even if the shipment itself remains the same.
It’s also useful to verify receiving hours and any restrictions that could affect the delivery.
3. Does the Shipment Require Inside Delivery?
Ask where the receiver expects the freight to be delivered.
If the shipment needs to be moved beyond the standard unloading point, check whether the carrier offers inside delivery and include that service in the quote.
Any additional services should also be documented on the bill of lading (BOL) so the shipment instructions are clear.
If you’ve noticed unexpected charges on previous shipments, our guide to freight bill auditing explains how to review invoices and identify billing discrepancies.
Compare LTL Freight Rates With the Right Delivery Details
Accessorial charges are part of the total cost of shipping freight. The important thing is to account for them before choosing a carrier.
With GoShip, businesses can enter their shipment information, specify pickup and delivery requirements, and compare LTL freight rates from more than 100 carriers in one place.
Instead of requesting separate quotes from multiple transportation companies, shippers can review available carrier options and book through the GoShip platform.
Whether you’re shipping occasionally or managing regular freight deliveries, including accurate shipment details helps you make a more informed comparison and reduces the risk of unexpected charges.
Get an LTL freight quote and compare carrier options based on your shipment’s actual requirements.