What Are The Different Types Of Accessorial Fees?

There are several types of accessorial fees in the trucking industry including Detention, Layover, Lumper, TONU, Reconsignment and Stop Charge.

Detention

Detention fee is charged when a truck driver arrives at a location and ends up waiting to be loaded or unloaded. In most cases, carriers allow for some “free hours” per driver, but they will charge you an hourly rate after that time allotment is up. Drivers get paid by moving and delivering loads, not by sitting on them.

Layover

A layover fee is a charge that trucking companies may bill to their clients when a driver is forced to wait for an extended period of time. Layovers can occur when a driver is unable to pick up or drop off freight on the day they arrive at a location and must wait overnight to meet a subsequent delivery or pickup time. Layover fees are different from layover pay, which compensates drivers for time spent during scheduled breaks or layovers. Layover fees are instead used to compensate drivers for any additional time and expenses incurred as a result of the layover. 

Lumper

A lumper fee is a charge for the labor of loading or unloading cargo at a warehouse dock. The fee is usually paid by the driver or carrier, but reimbursement policies can vary depending on the contract and logistics company.

TONU – (Truck Order Not Used)

TONU stands for “Truck Order Not Used” and is a term used in transportation logistics to describe a fee for last-minute cancellations. Trucking companies charge TONUs to compensate for lost time and revenue that can result from miscommunication or changes in plans. TONUs can occur when a customer cancels a confirmed arrangement or isn’t available when the truck arrives. Other reasons for a TONU include the shipment not being ready or the shipper ordering the wrong equipment or truck.

Reconsignment

A reconsignment fee is a charge that may apply when a shipment’s destination is changed after it has been picked up by a carrier. The fee is usually based on the distance between the original and new destinations, and can vary by carrier. It can range from around $50 to $75, plus any out-of-route miles, or it can be as high as the original freight charges.

Stop Charge

A fee charged by a carrier when a shipment is divided into multiple stops or additional stops are added to the original itinerary. This fee compensates the carrier for the extra handling and transportation costs. The first stop of a multi-stop load is usually free, but subsequent stops may incur a charge. For example, if a shipment is split between two warehouses, the trucker may charge a stop-off fee for each location.