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Your Guide to Navigating Accessorials on LTL Shipments

Author Molly Mangan

view of open highway from a driver's perspective, looking through the windshield of a semi truck

When it comes to shipping with Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) carriers, it’s important to understand accessorial charges. These extra fees are added to shipments for a variety of reasons and can vary depending on factors such as shipping lanes and seasonal trends. So how do you prepare for this?  

With a trusted partner like Echo, we can help you evaluate and navigate accessorial charges as they come. Here are a few tips for where to begin:  

  • Plan for additional services that will be required for your shipment. Will there be a dock at your origin and final destination? If not, you may need a liftgate for loading or unloading. Will your load take up multiple pallets? That will incur additional fees. Utilize Echo’s LTL experts to help you plan for necessities prior to shipping and delivery. 
  • Ensure your freight is accurately weighed and classified. As a shipper, load weight is your responsibility, and the weight of each pallet should be factored into the final total. Proper classification is also critical for LTL shipments as you may find instances where your load runs into parameters overriding density specifications.  
  • Inform carriers of special requirements before you ship. Disclose every requirement your shipment needs to identify any accessorial charges upfront. While you may not find any, this will help keep you prepared for future shipments should additional charges arise. 
  • Understand the requirements you’re being charged for. Understand what each individual accessorial charge means to know why you’re being charged for it. Here’s where your Echo rep can help you align your unique requirements with the right carrier for you.  
  • Avoid accessorial charges for inside delivery. You can avoid one charge in particular by communicating with the carrier ahead of time that inside delivery will not be paid regardless of the consignee’s request. This needs to be done explicitly. Contact your Echo rep to ensure this process is accurately completed beforehand.   

Regardless of your unique business and shipping needs, it’s essential that shippers understand LTL accessorial charges. These extra charges play an important role in the shipping process and planning for them helps you better manage your shipping costs and save money. The key to staying ahead is to stay informed so you can avoid or reduce additional charges. At Echo, we work with you to ensure you get the best rates and shipping services to optimize your transportation experience.  

For assistance on common accessorials for different location types, explore our comprehensive guide below! 

*This is a general guide of common accessorials for varying location types and is not inclusive of all potential accessorials. Please reach out to your Echo representative with any questions. 

For more information on shipping with Echo, visit echo.com or contact us at info@echo.com.

For informational purposes.