Understanding Freight Accessorial Charges (Complete List)
The Short Answer
Accessorial charges are fees billed on top of the base line-haul rate for extra services or conditions — detention, layover, lumper fees, TONU, driver-assist, tarping, liftgate, and more. Dispatchers who know the full list and bill accessorials accurately can significantly increase a carrier's revenue per load, since these fees are often left uncollected.
The line-haul rate is just the starting point. Accessorial charges cover everything the carrier does beyond simply moving freight from point A to point B — and they add up fast when a dispatcher bills them consistently.
Accessorial charges are extra fees added to the base line-haul rate for additional services or conditions, such as detention, layover, lumper fees, truck-order-not-used (TONU), driver-assist unloading, tarping, and liftgate service. They compensate the carrier for time, labor, or equipment beyond a standard pickup and delivery.
The Most Common Accessorials
| Accessorial | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Detention | Time held at shipper/receiver past free time |
| Layover | Driver forced to wait overnight to load/unload |
| TONU (Truck Order Not Used) | Load canceled after the truck was dispatched |
| Lumper fee | Third-party labor paid to load/unload freight |
| Driver-assist / driver unload | Driver helps load or unload |
| Tarping | Securing and covering flatbed freight with tarps |
| Liftgate | Truck equipped with a liftgate for no-dock delivery |
| Stop-off charge | Each additional pickup or delivery on a multi-stop load |
Why Accessorials Are Easy Money Left on the Table
Many carriers — especially newer owner-operators — simply don't bill accessorials. They tarp a flatbed load, wait three hours at a receiver, or do a lumper out of pocket, and never invoice for it. A dispatcher who catches and bills these charges directly increases the carrier's revenue without finding a single new load.
How to Bill Accessorials Correctly
- Confirm which accessorials apply before booking — get rates on the rate confirmation
- Collect documentation: signed BOL, lumper receipts, in/out times, photos of tarped loads
- Itemize each accessorial separately on the invoice, not buried in the line-haul
- Submit promptly and follow up if the broker is slow to approve
Get It in Writing First
The cleanest way to collect accessorials is to confirm them on the rate confirmation before the load moves. A tarp fee or detention rate agreed in writing is far easier to collect than one argued about after delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a TONU charge?
TONU stands for 'Truck Order Not Used.' It's an accessorial paid to the carrier when a load is canceled after the truck has already been dispatched, compensating for the wasted trip and lost opportunity.
Who pays accessorial charges?
Accessorials are typically billed to the broker or shipper as part of the carrier's invoice. The dispatcher documents and bills them on the carrier's behalf, ideally after confirming the rates on the rate confirmation.
Can dispatchers increase carrier income with accessorials?
Yes — significantly. Accessorials like detention, tarping, and lumper reimbursement are frequently left uncollected. A dispatcher who tracks and bills them consistently can raise a carrier's revenue per load without booking any extra freight.
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Michael Rivera
3PL freight broker with 10+ years experience and the lead instructor at Dispatcher Pro Academy.