Accessorial Charges: Why They Happen and What You Can Do

What is an accessorial charge, and how can you minimize any surprises regarding them? Here are a few answers. 

An accessorial charge gets its name because it is a charge related to the access for a carrier and driver to do their job of hauling your freight. If the truck and driver have to go through very tight security procedures, they spend extra time, fuel, and effort to make the delivery. But it would be unfair to pass on this cost to all shippers. Hence, a specific charge might be passed on due to the trouble accessing your particular load. 

Common accessorial charges come in a few broad categories determined by the type of extra work involved.

First, the charge may come from difficulties picking up or delivering at your company location. If the driver must do extra work in order to deliver items, such as having to find a particular person to sign for the delivery or providing mandatory advance notice of a pickup or delivery, the company will charge for the extra labor and time.

A second category of charge occurs if the driver must do extra labor or use certain equipment to complete the delivery. If they need to use a lift-gate, for instance, a special truck is required. If the driver must take goods inside, add pallet jacks or shrink wrap, or segregate goods, they may charge for the product and labor.

A third type of accessorial charge involves the difficulty of getting to and from your site. A shipment inside a heavily-trafficked area of a city or an area with particular navigation challenges (such as difficulty parking), you may see a charge for the extra skill and effort. Residential pickups and deliveries also face unique challenges that result in added fees.

While every shipper's overall goal is to minimize added charges, there are two ways to look at the matter. First, the accessorial fee might simply be a cost-effective part of doing business. Paying more for trucks with lift-gates may be a lot less expensive, for instance, than renovating your entire loading bay to accommodate easier shipping. And restricting residential services would save money but may harm customer service.

In these cases, the goal may need to be to avoid surprise fees by knowing what causes the charges and being prepared for them. Factoring in such fees can help you stay profitable.

Of course, the most effective way to avoid Accessorial Charges is to work with a professional logistics company that can guide you through the process and fight for your best interests. You’ll want to choose a supply chain expert that has years of experience dealing with all types of Carriers and knows how to confront any unfair charges. Having someone fighting along side you builds your credibility for doing business the right way.

Because accessorial charges add up, they can add or take away from your bottom line. Getting more information about possible fees and past access issues is the first step to controlling them. At JBS Logistics, we're ready to help. Our team of transport professionals can work with you to understand all fees and charges as well as find ways to avoid what you can. Call today to discuss your specific shipping challenges.