Truckload accessorial charges, explained for shippers

The common truckload accessorials

What each one is, and what usually triggers it:

• Detention — charged when loading or unloading runs past the free time, usually counted from the appointment
• Layover — the driver must wait overnight or longer because the load cannot be picked up or delivered as scheduled
• TONU (truck order not used) — the truck was dispatched and the load was cancelled or not ready
• Lumper fee — a third-party crew unloads at the receiver, common at grocery and food DCs
• Driver assist — the driver helps load or unload instead of staying hands-off
• Extra stop — each pickup or delivery beyond the first
• Tarp — flatbed loads that must be covered
• Reefer pre-cool or washout — receivers or commodities that require them

How shippers avoid surprise charges

Nearly every accessorial dispute comes down to information the carrier did not have when it priced the load. Give dock hours, appointment rules, unloading method and stop count with the quote request. Keep loading on schedule, and tell the broker the moment a load will not be ready — a cancellation the day before is far cheaper than a truck that arrives to nothing.

Ask for accessorial terms in writing before you book, and make sure the invoice shows each charge separately with the reason.

How Throughline handles accessorials

Known accessorials are captured with the load and listed with the quote, so the carrier options you approve already account for them. Requirements such as temperature, tarps, securement, appointments and driver assist travel with the load from quote through carrier review.

When the POD is verified, your invoice arrives as one PDF with the POD and BOL attached. If a charge looks wrong, you can dispute it from the billing tab in the shipper portal.