A freight accessorial charge is an amount outside the base line-haul rate for additional time, services, route changes or operational events. The exact entitlement and amount come from the applicable agreement—not from a universal industry price list.
Common carrier accessorial charges
| Charge | What it generally describes | Typical evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Detention | Waiting beyond allowed free time at pickup or delivery. | Rate confirmation, in/out times, notice and POD/BOL. |
| Layover | A delay extending the load or driver into another service period. | Appointments, dispatch history, written approval and revised timing. |
| TONU | Truck ordered and dispatched but not used. | Rate confirmation, dispatch evidence and cancellation message. |
| Lumper | Third-party loading or unloading expense. | Receipt, load number and reimbursement approval. |
| Extra stop | Added pickup or delivery location. | Revised instructions, stop PODs and agreed fee. |
| Driver assist | Driver performs additional loading/unloading work. | Written instruction, signed paperwork and approval. |
| Redelivery / reconsignment | Changed destination or repeated delivery attempt. | Change instruction, route evidence and fee approval. |
| Rate discrepancy | Documented rate or accessorial differs from settlement. | Original/revised rate confirmations, invoice and settlement. |
Why accessorials disappear
Operations, dispatch, drivers, billing and factoring may each hold a different piece of the file. The truck completes the event, but the commercial and payment records are never joined into one reviewable package.
- Approval is buried in an email thread.
- A receipt is uploaded under the wrong category.
- A revised rate confirmation is never reflected in billing.
- The factor receives the base freight invoice before the accessorial is added.
- The carrier receives a short payment and closes the load without reconciling it.
What makes an accessorial claim supportable?
- Terms: written basis for the charge.
- Event: credible evidence that the event occurred.
- Compliance: required notice, timing and submission process followed.
- Amount: transparent calculation tied to the terms.
- Payment state: proof the charge remains unbilled, unpaid or short-paid.
Start narrow
For an initial review, recent detention is usually the cleanest place to start because the event and calculation can be objective. Other accessorial categories should be added only when the documents and counterparty process are understood.