What are Accessorial Charges? A Guide to LTL Freight Fees

April 27, 2023 at 11:31 AMLeah Palnik

No one likes surprise fees. Unfortunately, there are quite a few extra costs that are likely to pop up with LTL freight. Known as accessorial fees, these charges cover a wide variety of extra services and can add up fast. In this post, we'll answer the question, "what are accessorial charges?" and provide a list of common LTL accessorial fees to help you better understand and manage your freight costs.

What are accessorial charges?
Accessorial charges are fees for services performed by the carrier that are considered to be beyond the standard pickup and delivery. These fees make up just one part of your freight rate, but can be challenging to manage. Understanding which accessorial charges you can plan for and which ones you can avoid is necessary if you want to keep your freight costs in check.

What are some common LTL accessorial charges?
You might be wondering what is considered an extra service, and you’re not alone. We’ve compiled some common LTL accessorial fees so you know what to look out for.

  • Lift Gate Service
    When the shipping or receiving address does not have a loading dock, manual loading or unloading is necessary. A lift gate is a platform at the back of certain trucks that can raise and lower a shipment from the ground to the truck. Having this feature on trucks requires additional investment by an LTL carrier, hence the additional fee.

  • Residential Service
    Carriers define a business zone as a location that opens and closes to the public at set times every day. If you are a business located in a residential zone (among personal homes or dwellings), or are shipping to or from a residence, the carrier may charge an additional residential fee due to complexity in navigating these non-business areas.

  • Collect On Delivery (COD)
    A shipment for which the transportation provider is responsible for collecting the sale price of the goods shipped before delivery. The additional administration required for this type of shipment necessitates an additional fee to cover the carrier's cost.

  • Oversized Freight
    Shipments containing articles greater than or equal to twelve feet in length. Since these shipments take up more floor space on the trailer, additional fees often apply.

  • Fuel Surcharge
    An extra charge imposed by the carriers due to the excessive costs for diesel gas. The charge is a percentage that is normally based upon the Diesel Fuel Index by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

  • Inside Pick Up/Inside Delivery
    If the driver is required to go inside (beyond the front door or loading dock) to pick up or deliver your shipment, instead of remaining at the dock or truck, additional fees will be charged because of the additional driver time needed for this service.

  • Advance Notification
    This fee is charged when the carrier is required to notify the consignee before making a delivery.

  • Limited Access Pickup or Delivery
    This fee covers the additional costs required to make pickups or deliveries at locations with limited access such as schools, military bases, prisons, or government buildings.

  • Reweigh and Reclassification
    Since weight and freight class determine shipment base rates, carriers want to make sure the information on the BOL is accurate. If the carrier inspects a shipment and it does not match what was listed, they will charge this fee along with the difference.

Navigating the many nuances of LTL freight accessorial fees to determine which services you need and which you can avoid will help ensure the most cost effective price. Carriers generally publish a document called the "Rules Tariff 100" which provides a list of current accessorial services and fees. The shipping experts at PartnerShip are well versed in these documents and are happy to help with any questions you may have. 

Want a more in-depth look into freight accessorial fees and how to avoid or offset the added costs? Check out our free white paper

Forget Boxes: When to Use Poly Mailer Packaging

April 5, 2023 at 3:04 PMJen Deming
When to use poly mailer packaging

If you’re a retailer, you probably know that there is a wide variety of packaging options available to ship your customer orders. In addition to traditional options like boxes, poly mailers are quickly becoming the preferred choice of many shippers. With perks like low supply costs and quick assembly, poly mailers sound like a rock star solution, but how can you be sure they are right for you? Looking at some very specific scenarios can help determine when to use a poly mailer.

Scenario 1 - When you need assembly to be fast and efficient

No one wants to waste time packaging shipments - and poly mailers are a great option when you want to streamline your shipping process. Unlike boxes, which require assembly, tape, and internal elements like foam core, poly mailers are ready to use right off the shelf. Once you select which mailer style to use, all you need to do is insert the item, seal the mailer, and add the shipping label. 

An added bonus is that poly mailers can streamline and simplify storage for your packing materials. They take up less space, which means you can store more of them in your warehouse. If you have limited storage space, and a smaller team to manage your shipping, these efficiencies can be a lifesaver. 

Scenario 2 - When you want to keep shipping supplies costs low

Keeping shipping supplies on hand can get pricey, especially if you need to order custom-sized items like boxes for packaging. If you’re looking to save money on supplies, poly mailers are a great option. They are typically less expensive than boxes -  on average they cost $0.25 a mailer compared to $1.25 for a box of a similar size. For extra protection, you can find bubble mailers, which have padding built in. Bubble mailers don't require additional packing materials like Styrofoam peanuts, so you're saving some money there. All types of mailers are able to be purchased in bulk, which helps with cost savings.

Another perk you get with poly mailers is that if your supplies unexpectedly run low they are easy to find at places like office supply or grocery stores. While it’s always best to keep an appropriate amount of packaging on hand, if you’re in a pinch, finding more won’t be difficult or break the bank. These factors all add up to significant savings over time, especially if you ship a moderate to high volume of products.

Scenario 3 - If you want to avoid high DIM weight charges

As many retailers know, small package carriers use dimensional weight (DIM weight) pricing to calculate shipping costs. Carriers do not like to waste space on their trucks, so shipping large, lightweight packages is a no-no. These bulky packages will cost you, and this is a significant expense that quickly adds up for many retailers. A smart way to offset these high costs is to make sure you are minimizing wasted space, and that’s where poly mailers come in. 

Poly mailers are small, thin, and flexible - they can be folded and resized to best fit the product inside. These small, dense packages allow for greater efficiency for the carrier, and will cost you less in the long run. 

Scenario 4 - When you want a specific type of protection

Poly mailers are economical and convenient, but they are not suitable for all types of products. If you’re shipping fragile items, or those too large and heavy to fit securely in a mailer, you may need to use a different type of packaging. 

When to use poly mailer packaging

Poly mailers are ideal for soft goods like clothing, bedding, purses and backpacks, and some accessories like belts or scarves and knit hats. Padded mailers that offer additional lightweight protection are great for books and printed materials, DVD and blu ray discs,  some jewelry, cosmetics and skincare items, and select types of home goods like flatware.

If you’re shipping the right items that are not easily damaged, poly mailers can offer excellent protection. They are made from durable materials that can withstand normal handling during shipping. They are tear resistant, and also offer dirt and weather protection that is ideal for small items going to residential mailboxes.

Scenario 5 - When eco-friendly shipping is important

Finally, if you’re committed to eco-friendly shipping practices, poly mailers can be a great option for your business. They are often made from fully compostable or recyclable materials. You can often drop off poly mailers at the same places that would recycle plastic bags and containers. Poly mailers are also generally lightweight compared to boxes, which is more energy efficient for carriers.

How to recycle poly mailers graphic

Most significantly, poly mailers are often completely reusable. Many options have a secondary adhesive strip that allows them to be used for return shipping of orders, or even reused by the consumer for other shipping purposes. Even those without a second strip can be folded over at the opening and secured with tape - their durable material can withstand multiple journeys through a shipping network. These factors combined make poly mailers a great choice for retailers who want to reduce their environmental impact by reducing packaging waste.

Poly mailers are a great option for retailers - when it’s the right product

Poly mailers are a versatile and cost-effective option for small package shipping, and work very well for many ecommerce retailers. They can help streamline your order fulfillment process, enforce brand awareness, and help avoid high DIM weight costs. You may be able to save even more on your small package shipping if you belong to an association or chamber that works with PartnerShip. Contact our team to find out what options are available to your business.

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