The line haul — the base cost of moving freight from A to B — is only part of a freight invoice. The charges that surprise shippers most are the accessorials: the extra fees for anything beyond a clean, on-time pickup and delivery.
None of these are hidden or arbitrary. Each one covers a specific cost the carrier incurs. This guide explains the most common accessorial charges in plain language and, more usefully, how to avoid most of them.
1. Detention: the most common surprise
Detention is charged when a driver is held at a pickup or delivery location beyond the free time allowed — often two hours. After that, the carrier bills for the driver's waiting time, because a truck sitting at a dock is a truck not earning miles.
Detention is also the most avoidable accessorial. Loading and unloading promptly, staffing the dock during the appointment window, and keeping paperwork ready are the simplest ways to keep a driver moving and avoid the charge.
2. Layover and truck ordered not used (TONU)
A layover fee applies when a driver is forced to wait overnight — for example, when a facility cannot load or unload until the next day. It compensates the carrier for the lost day.
Truck Ordered Not Used (TONU) applies when a shipment is cancelled after a truck has already been dispatched. The driver and equipment were committed, so a fee covers the wasted trip. Clear, timely communication prevents most TONU charges.
3. Lumper fees
A lumper fee is the cost of third-party labor to load or unload freight, common at grocery and distribution warehouses. The driver often pays the lumper on site and the charge is passed through to the shipper, usually with a receipt.
Lumper fees are a cost of how certain facilities operate rather than something a carrier controls. Knowing a destination uses lumpers lets you budget for it instead of being surprised.
4. Stops, redelivery, and reconsignment
Additional stop-offs beyond the single pickup and delivery add cost, since each stop takes time. Redelivery fees apply when a first delivery attempt fails and the carrier has to return. Reconsignment covers rerouting a shipment to a new destination after it is already in motion.
All three come down to the same thing: changes and extra steps cost time and money. Accurate, final instructions up front keep them off your invoice.
5. Fuel surcharge
A fuel surcharge is a separate line item that adjusts with fuel prices, so the base rate does not have to be renegotiated every time diesel moves. It is standard across the industry and reflects real operating cost, not a markup.
Understanding that fuel is billed separately helps you read a quote correctly and compare carriers on a like-for-like basis.
6. How to keep accessorials low
Most accessorials trace back to time lost or plans changed. Load and unload quickly, keep appointments and dock staff ready, provide complete and final shipping instructions, and communicate changes early. Do that consistently and the extra line items largely disappear.
A good carrier will also flag likely accessorials before a load moves rather than surprising you after. Transparency here is a sign of a partner worth keeping.
Accessorial charges are not fine print — they are the cost of the things that happen around the line haul. Understand them and most become avoidable with a little coordination.
Want a clear quote with the likely accessorials explained up front? Contact Uzum Logistics and we will walk you through it.