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Glossary

Accessorial Charges

Accessorial charges are additional fees beyond the base freight rate for extra services like detention, layover, fuel surcharges, lumper fees, and special handling.

What Is Accessorial Charges?

Accessorial charges (also called accessorials) are any fees charged in addition to the base transportation rate. They compensate the carrier for services, delays, or requirements beyond a standard pickup-and-delivery. Common accessorials include detention pay, layover pay, TONU fees, fuel surcharges, lumper fees, tarping fees, stop-off charges (for multi-stop loads), inside delivery fees, lift-gate charges, and hazmat surcharges.

Accessorials can add 5-20% to a load's total revenue, yet many owner-operators do not claim them. According to industry surveys, carriers who aggressively track and claim accessorials earn $5,000-$15,000 more per year than those who do not. The key is having accessorial terms specified in the rate confirmation before accepting the load, documenting everything during the haul, and filing claims promptly.

Common accessorial rates: detention ($25-$75/hour after 2 hours), layover ($150-$350/day), TONU ($150-$500), tarping ($50-$150), extra stops ($50-$100 each), inside delivery ($50-$200), and lift-gate ($75-$150). These are negotiable and vary by broker, market, and load. Having a dispatcher who aggressively negotiates and claims accessorials is one of the most overlooked ways to increase your income.

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Why It Matters

Accessorial charges can add $5,000-$15,000 to your annual income. Most self-dispatching carriers miss these because they do not negotiate terms upfront or document delays properly. Claiming every legitimate accessorial is one of the easiest ways to increase earnings without driving more miles.

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Real-World Example

Over one month, Lisa's FF Dispatch dispatcher filed the following accessorial claims on her behalf: 3 detention claims totaling $450, 1 layover at $250, 2 tarping fees at $100 each, and 1 TONU at $300. Total accessorial income: $1,200 for the month — that is $14,400/year in additional revenue that Lisa would have missed if she were self-dispatching and not tracking these charges.
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How FF Dispatch Handles This

FF Dispatch negotiates accessorial terms on every rate confirmation and files claims on your behalf. Our carriers recover an average of $300-$500/month in detention alone, plus layover, TONU, and other accessorials that most self-dispatching carriers miss.

Related Terms

Detention

Detention pay is additional compensation paid to a carrier when loading or unloading takes longer than the agreed-upon free time, typically after a 2-hour window.

Layover

Layover pay is compensation for a carrier when they are forced to wait overnight or an extended period between pickup and delivery due to scheduling issues.

TONU (Truck Ordered Not Used)

TONU is a fee charged to the broker or shipper when a carrier arrives at a pickup location and the load is cancelled, not ready, or significantly different than booked.

Fuel Surcharge

A fuel surcharge is an additional per-mile charge added to the freight rate that adjusts for fluctuations in diesel fuel prices, protecting carriers from volatile fuel costs.

Lumper Fee

A lumper fee is a charge for third-party labor used to load or unload freight at a warehouse or distribution center, separate from the carrier's transportation rate.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common accessorial charges?+
Detention (waiting at facilities), layover (overnight delays), TONU (cancelled loads), fuel surcharges, lumper fees, tarping fees, and extra stop charges. Each should be specified in the rate confirmation before you accept the load.
How do I ensure I get paid for accessorials?+
Three steps: (1) negotiate accessorial terms in the rate confirmation before dispatching, (2) document everything — times, receipts, photos, (3) file claims promptly. Your FF Dispatch team handles all three.
Can brokers refuse to pay accessorial charges?+
If accessorial terms are in the rate confirmation, the broker is contractually obligated. Without written terms, enforcement is difficult. This is why pre-negotiation is critical — never assume accessorials will be covered.

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