Complete Guide to Accessorial Charges for Freight Brokers: Current Rates & Management Strategies

Accessorial charges are fees beyond the base linehaul rate that cover additional services required to complete a freight shipment. In 2025, the most common accessorials include detention ($50-85/hour), stop-off fees ($75-150 per stop), lumper services ($75-300), and TONU charges ($150-300). As a freight broker, you should clearly document these charges in rate confirmations, decide which to pass to shippers versus absorb, and implement verification processes before payment. When managed strategically, accessorials can become a profit center rather than an operational headache, with top brokers typically applying a 15-25% markup when passing these charges to shippers.

What Are Accessorial Charges in Freight?

Accessorial charges are supplementary fees that cover services beyond the standard pickup and delivery of freight. They compensate carriers for additional time, labor, or equipment required to fulfill special handling requirements or address operational disruptions. Unlike the linehaul rate (the base charge for moving freight from origin to destination), accessorials are typically billed separately and often occur unexpectedly.

Common triggers for accessorial charges include:

Extended loading/unloading times
Multiple pickup or delivery stops
Special equipment requirements
After-hours services
Shipment rerouting
Loading/unloading assistance

From a broker's perspective, these charges represent both a risk and an opportunity. Poorly managed accessorials eat into margins, while strategically handled ones can become a revenue stream.

Common Accessorial Charges with Current Rates (2025)

Here's a comprehensive breakdown of the most common accessorial charges with their current market rates:

Accessorial Type	Description	Current Rate (2025)	Typical Markup
Detention	Compensation for driver time beyond free time (usually 2 hours)	$50-85 per hour	15-20%
Stop-Off	Additional stops between origin and final destination	$75-150 per stop	15-25%
Lumper	Loading/unloading labor services	$75-300 per occurrence	10-15%
TONU (Truck Ordered Not Used)	Compensation when shipper cancels after carrier dispatch	$150-300 flat fee	10-20%
Layover	Overnight stay required due to shipping delays	$250-400 per day	15-20%
Redelivery	Return delivery attempt when initial delivery fails	$150-400 per attempt	15-25%
Liftgate	Use of hydraulic platform for ground-level loading/unloading	$50-150 per use	15-20%
Inside Delivery	Delivery beyond the dock or threshold	$75-200 per delivery	20-25%
After Hours/Weekend/Holiday	Services outside normal business hours	$75-200 premium	15-20%
Overweight/Oversize	Handling freight exceeding standard dimensions/weight	$100-500 per load	15-25%
Hazmat	Handling hazardous materials	$75-250 premium	10-15%
Pallet Jack	Providing pallet jack at delivery	$25-75 per use	15-20%
Truck Wash	Required cleaning after certain product types	$75-150 per wash	10-15%
Scale Ticket	Weight verification	$20-50 per weighing	15-20%
Storage	Holding freight on trailer beyond free time	$100-250 per day	15-20%

Deep Dive: Stop-Off Fees

Since stop-off fees are among the most common accessorials, let's examine them in detail:

Stop-off fees compensate carriers for additional stops between the origin and final destination. These fees typically increase with each additional stop, as each stop:

Adds drive time and mileage
Increases operational complexity
Creates additional detention risk
Requires more administrative work

The current market rates for stop-offs in 2025:

First stop-off: $75-$100
Second stop-off: $100-$125
Third+ stop-off: $125-$150 each

Regional variations exist, with higher rates in congested urban areas and lower rates in rural regions. Stop-offs in the Northeast and California typically command premium pricing ($100-175), while Midwest rates tend to be lower ($60-125).

Smart brokers often structure multi-stop loads by calculating the total transit time impact and detention risk at each facility, not just the drive time between stops. When possible, consolidate freight to minimize stops—every stop eliminated saves you $75-150.

How to Handle Accessorial Charges as a Broker

Effective accessorial management follows these key principles:

1. Clear Documentation

Document all potential accessorial charges in both carrier and customer agreements:

Specify rates for each accessorial type
Define free time allowances (typically 2 hours for detention)
Outline supporting documentation required (timestamps, lumper receipts, etc.)
Establish timeframes for submitting accessorial claims (24-48 hours is standard)

Here's sample rate confirmation language that protects your interests:

ACCESSORIAL CHARGES: Carrier must notify Broker immediately (prior to service being performed) when accessorial services are required. Failure to obtain pre-approval may result in denied payment. All accessorial claims must be submitted within 48 hours of delivery with supporting documentation including timestamps, signed receipts, and relevant communications. Detention: $XX/hr after 2 hours free time. Lumper: Actual cost with receipt. Stop-offs: As specified in rate details.

2. Pass-through vs. Absorption Decision Framework

Not all accessorial charges should be passed to customers. Use this decision framework:

Always Pass Through:

Lumper fees (with receipt)
Extreme detention (beyond 4+ hours)
TONU when customer initiated
Redelivery due to customer error

Case-by-Case Evaluation:

Moderate detention (2-4 hours)
Stop-offs (especially if added after initial booking)
After hours/weekend service

Usually Absorb:

Minor detention (under 1 hour beyond free time)
Small accessorials under $50
Charges resulting from carrier issues or broker errors
Accessorials when working with high-value customers

3. Verification Process

Before paying carriers for accessorial charges:

Require timestamped documentation (arrival/departure times, signatures)
Cross-reference with tracking data and check calls
Validate rates against pre-agreed terms
Confirm service necessity (was the liftgate actually required?)
Check for carrier contribution to the issue (late arrival, improper equipment)

I've saved thousands by implementing rigorous verification. In one case, a carrier claimed 8 hours of detention, but geofence data showed they arrived 3 hours late, cutting the legitimate claim to just 3 hours.

4. Strategic Markup

When passing accessorials to customers, most successful brokers apply a 15-25% markup, depending on:

Customer relationship value
Competitive pressure in the lane
Whether the charge was preventable
Administrative effort required to process

For example, on a $200 lumper fee, a 15% markup adds $30 in pure profit. Across hundreds of loads annually, this becomes significant revenue.

Using Technology to Manage Accessorial Charges

Modern technology dramatically improves accessorial management:

Automated Tracking and Documentation

Platforms like Foreigh's AI Phone Assistant can:

Automatically log arrival and departure times
Generate detention alerts when free time is exceeded
Collect and organize accessorial documentation
Calculate accurate detention times based on geofence data

Documentation Management

Foreigh's Documents feature streamlines accessorial processes by:

Automatically extracting accessorial charges from carrier invoices
Matching accessorial claims to pre-approvals
Flagging discrepancies between claimed and approved amounts
Generating customer billing for approved accessorials

Proactive Strategies to Minimize Accessorial Charges

The best way to handle accessorials is to prevent them:

1. Build Facility Intelligence Database

Track performance metrics for each shipper/consignee facility:

Average loading/unloading time
Frequency of lumper requirements
Appointment compliance percentage
Historical accessorial incidents

This data helps you accurately price loads and have proactive conversations with customers about facility improvements.

2. Carrier Selection Based on Accessorial History

Identify:

Carriers who rarely claim accessorials
Those with patterns of excessive claims
Carriers experienced with specific facility types
Regional carriers familiar with local facility practices

3. Customer Education and Facility Improvements

Share facility performance data with customers and suggest improvements:

Expanded dock hours to reduce detention
Pre-arranged lumper services
Improved appointment scheduling systems
Better communication protocols

I worked with a customer whose facility averaged 4.5 hours unloading time. After showing them how this affected their transportation costs, they restructured their receiving process and reduced average unload times to 1.7 hours, saving over $120,000 annually in detention charges.

4. Strategic Load Planning

Minimize accessorial exposure through smart planning:

Schedule appointments with generous buffers at known slow facilities
Batch stop-offs geographically to reduce empty miles
Schedule difficult facilities earlier in the day to avoid overtime charges
Use drop trailer programs for chronic detention locations

Accessorial Charges Best Practices Checklist

Conclusion

By implementing these strategies, you'll transform accessorial charges from a margin-eroding headache into a potential profit center. Brokers who master accessorial management typically see 0.5-1.5% overall margin improvement—significant in an industry where every percentage point matters. With proper documentation, verification processes, strategic markup decisions, and technology tools, accessorials can become a reliable source of additional revenue rather than an unpredictable cost. The key is developing systematic approaches to each type of accessorial and consistently applying your policies across all shipments.