Describe the service before comparing the charge
A less-than-truckload (LTL) accessorial is an additional service or condition addressed under the carrier's terms. A quote can change when the pickup or delivery arrangement differs from the one described at booking. Clarify the actual site, equipment and work before adding charges to an estimate.
This reference helps you ask the right questions. The accessorial cost estimator adds fees you enter after you have confirmed they apply. It does not decide whether a site needs a particular service or supply a current carrier price.
Compare service names with the actual work required
| Service | What to clarify | Questions for this shipment |
|---|---|---|
| Liftgate | A platform moves freight between the vehicle and ground level. | Is a suitable dock or unloading equipment available? Confirm equipment capacity, handling-unit size and access. |
| Inside pickup or delivery | Movement beyond the carrier’s defined standard pickup or delivery point. | Which threshold or room is included? Confirm distance, stairs, obstructions, equipment and who performs the work. |
| Limited-access location | A site category defined by the carrier’s terms. | Provide the address and site use. Ask how the carrier classifies it; a ZIP code alone does not establish the service. |
| Residential service | Pickup or delivery treated as residential under the carrier’s terms. | Explain how the site is used. Confirm whether residential and other location-related services apply together. |
| Appointment or notification | An arranged delivery time or a request to contact the recipient before arrival. | Confirm the contact, receiving hours, lead time and whether the appointment is booked or only requested. |
| Sort, segregate or additional handling | Work beyond the agreed movement of prepared handling units. | Describe piece counts, separation and handling requests. Confirm the work included in the service. |
| Redelivery or storage | Additional arrangements when delivery cannot be completed as planned. | Confirm receiving readiness and what happens after a missed attempt, including applicable charges and storage terms. |
Do not assume that a liftgate includes inside movement, that a notification is a booked appointment, or that a business address is outside a carrier's limited-access definition. Describe the site and ask which services and terms apply together.
Confirm pickup and delivery arrangements
Use the checklist with the shipper, consignee and carrier. A checked box records a discussion; it does not book a service or confirm carrier acceptance. Keep the written quote or booking reference with the shipment.
Enter confirmed charges using the correct billing basis
- Add one row for each applicable fee that is not already included in the quote.
- Select flat fee, USD per billing unit, or percentage of an eligible amount.
- For a unit rate, enter the quantity in the unit matching the rate. For a percentage, enter only the eligible charge base.
- Enter a per-line minimum and maximum. Zero maximum means no cap; a positive maximum cannot be lower than the minimum.
- Calculate and compare each line with the applicable agreement before using the total.
Base fee = flat amount, unit rate × billing units, or eligible amount × percentage ÷ 100Line fee = max(base fee, minimum), then limited by a positive maximumAdditional fees total = sum of the applicable line feesAmounts, quantities, percentages and limits must be finite and nonnegative. Fractional billing units are accepted only when the agreement permits them. The tool does not infer short-hundredweight units, round billed weight or decide which charges belong in a percentage base.
Worked example: add three entered fees
The following amounts demonstrate the arithmetic. They are not a carrier tariff, market benchmark or quote for liftgate, residential or any other named service.
| Row and inputs | Base calculation | Minimum / cap | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat amount: $50 | $50 | $0 minimum; $0 means no cap | $50.00 |
| Unit rate: $75; quantity: 2 | $75 × 2 = $150 | $0 minimum; no cap | $150.00 |
| Percentage: 5%; eligible base: $1,000 | $1,000 × 5 ÷ 100 = $50 | $0 minimum; $40 cap | $40.00 |
| Total additional fees | $50 + $150 + $40 | After each line's limits | $240.00 |
The estimator displays monetary results to at most 2 decimal places. It adds the underlying calculated amounts before display rounding; it does not reproduce an agreement's invoice-rounding policy. A fee total excludes linehaul, fuel, tax and other charges unless you enter them as applicable, nonduplicated rows.
Keep service confirmation with the cost estimate
The short-hundredweight rate calculator handles a separate entered weight-rate calculation; it does not select these services. Record the confirmed service arrangement in the shipment worksheet so the same site and handling assumptions accompany the freight.
Confirm the work, obtain the applicable charging basis, and then calculate. If the site, equipment or requested handling changes, reconfirm the services and charges with the carrier rather than reusing an estimate built for different conditions.
FAQs
Does this reference show standard less-than-truckload (LTL) accessorial prices?
No. Service definitions, rates and charging conditions depend on the carrier and agreement. Confirm the current terms for the actual shipment.
Does checking a service in the list book it?
No. The checklist records that you discussed the question. Obtain written confirmation through the carrier's process.