Pillar 2 — Carrier Business Operations

Complete List of Trucking Accessorial Charges and Rates (2026)

Dwell Editorial · Updated 2026-04-24
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Complete List of Trucking Accessorial Charges and Rates (2026)

This is a reference guide to every major accessorial charge carriers can bill, with typical rate ranges, triggering conditions, and documentation requirements for each. Rates are industry ranges — what’s actually collectible depends on your rate confirmation.

Detention & Delay Charges

Detention Pay

Rate: $50–$100/hour (dry van); $75–$100/hour (reefer) Trigger: Truck held at facility beyond free time allowance (typically 2 hours) Documentation: GPS arrival/departure timestamps, rate confirmation with detention terms Notes: Most undercollected accessorial in trucking. Fewer than 50% of invoices are paid (ATRI 2024). GPS + ELD evidence is the standard that wins disputes.

Layover Pay

Rate: $150–$300/night Trigger: Driver forced to overnight at or near shipper facility due to shipper-caused delay and HOS exhaustion Documentation: ELD HOS logs, GPS records at facility, rate confirmation with layover terms

Drop and Hook / Live Load Premium

Rate: $50–$100 flat fee Trigger: Load requires live loading when drop/hook was expected, or vice versa Documentation: Load tender specifying expected service type, confirmation of actual service performed

Extended Wait

Rate: $25–$50/hour Trigger: Scheduled pickup/delivery is missed by the broker or shipper, requiring the driver to wait (distinct from detention — this may apply before free time begins in some contracts) Documentation: Appointment confirmation, GPS arrival time, communications showing shipper missed the window

Cancellation Charges

TONU (Truck Ordered Not Used)

Rate: $100–$300 flat fee, or 10–25% of linehaul rate Trigger: Load canceled by broker or shipper after truck has been dispatched Documentation: GPS records showing truck en route, load tender, cancellation communication

Short Notice Cancellation

Rate: $50–$150 Trigger: Load canceled within a specified window (commonly 2–4 hours of pickup) — different from full TONU Documentation: Load tender, cancellation timestamp from broker communication

Load Refusal / Refused Delivery

Rate: $150–$300 flat fee Trigger: Consignee refuses delivery at destination; truck must return freight Documentation: Delivery receipt with refusal noted, photograph of freight condition at delivery

Labor & Equipment Charges

Lumper Fee (Reimbursement)

Rate: Pass-through at actual cost (typically $100–$400 per load) Trigger: Third-party labor required to unload at receiver facility (common at grocery DCs) Documentation: Lumper receipt (Comdata code record or signed paper receipt) Notes: Always get a receipt before leaving the facility. Without it, reimbursement is difficult to claim.

Driver Unload / Driver Assist

Rate: $50–$100/hour or $75–$150 flat fee Trigger: Driver required to physically assist loading or unloading Documentation: Delivery receipt noting driver-assist, time log

Inside Delivery

Rate: $50–$150 flat fee, sometimes per-floor charges Trigger: Freight must be delivered inside the premises (not curbside or dock) Documentation: Delivery receipt confirming inside delivery completed

White Glove / Installation

Rate: $75–$200+ per item Trigger: Delivery requires placement, assembly, or installation Documentation: Delivery receipt with white glove service confirmed

Equipment Charges

Liftgate

Rate: $50–$75 per use Trigger: Liftgate used to lower freight to ground level at delivery without dock Documentation: Delivery receipt noting liftgate use

Tarp (Flatbed)

Rate: $25–$75 per tarp, or flat fee per load Trigger: Flatbed load requires tarping for weather or cargo protection Documentation: Photo at origin showing tarped load, delivery confirmation

Blanket Wrap

Rate: $15–$30 per blanket Trigger: High-value or fragile freight requires furniture blanket wrapping Documentation: Count on delivery receipt

Strapping / Securement

Rate: $25–$75 per load Trigger: Specialized cargo securement required beyond standard Documentation: Note on delivery receipt

Pallet Jack Service

Rate: $25–$50 per use Trigger: Delivery point has no dock; pallet jack required to move freight Documentation: Delivery receipt noting pallet jack use

Additional Stop & Routing Charges

Stop-Off Charge

Rate: $50–$150 per additional stop Trigger: Each pickup or delivery stop beyond the first on a multi-stop load Documentation: Load tender showing all stops, GPS confirmation of each stop

Out-of-Route Miles

Rate: $0.50–$1.25 per mile (above contracted linehaul rate) Trigger: Route deviation required by shipper, customer, or permit routing Documentation: Dispatch records showing deviation request, GPS mileage

Reconsignment Fee

Rate: $50–$200 Trigger: Delivery destination changed after load is en route Documentation: Original rate confirmation, written reconsignment instruction from broker

Redelivery Fee

Rate: $75–$200 Trigger: First delivery attempt failed and a second attempt is required Documentation: First attempt delivery receipt with failure reason

Hazmat & Regulatory Charges

Hazmat Fee

Rate: $50–$200 flat fee or percentage surcharge Trigger: Load classified as hazardous material requiring placards and CDL endorsement Documentation: Bill of lading showing HAZMAT classification

Oversize / Overweight Permits

Rate: Pass-through at actual permit cost + $25–$75 administrative fee Trigger: Load dimensions or weight require special state permits Documentation: Permit copies, routing documentation

Pilot Car

Rate: Pass-through at actual cost Trigger: State permits require escort vehicle for oversized load Documentation: Pilot car invoice/receipt

High-Value / High-Security Fee

Rate: $50–$200 Trigger: Load value or classification requires enhanced security protocols Documentation: Load tender specifying security requirements

Administrative / Paperwork Charges

Fuel Surcharge

Rate: Calculated from DOE/EIA weekly diesel index (varies weekly) Trigger: Applied to all loads; rate adjusts with fuel price index Documentation: EIA fuel price reference

BOL Correction / Reweigh

Rate: $25–$75 Trigger: Original BOL requires correction or load requires reweigh Documentation: Corrected BOL or reweigh receipt

FCFS (First Come First Served) Surcharge

Rate: $50–$100 Trigger: Load is FCFS rather than appointment-based, increasing waiting time risk Documentation: Load tender language confirming FCFS terms

Signature Service

Rate: $25–$50 Trigger: Delivery requires recipient signature and carrier must obtain it Documentation: Signed delivery receipt

Notes on Collecting Accessorial Charges

Rule 1: It must be in your rate confirmation. Accessorials not covered in the RC can still be submitted, but you’re on weaker contractual ground. The cleaner approach is reviewing the RC before dispatch and requesting additions for anticipated accessorials.

Rule 2: Document at the time of the event. Trying to reconstruct documentation after the fact is harder and less credible. GPS records are automatic; paper documentation (lumper receipts, gate tickets) must be collected at the stop.

Rule 3: Submit within the claim window. Most broker RCs require accessorial claims within 24–72 hours of delivery. Missing the window typically bars the claim regardless of merit.

Rule 4: Submit with documentation attached. Don’t submit and wait to be asked for evidence. Include the full documentation package in the initial submission.

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