Accessorial charges are the extras added on top of the base rate when a load does not go exactly as planned. They are not automatic. Whether you get paid depends on what the rate confirmation says and on whether you can prove what happened. Here is what each one means in practice.
The four charges
| Charge | What it means | What to confirm before the load |
|---|---|---|
| Detention | Pay for waiting at a pickup or delivery beyond the free time | Length of free time and the hourly rate afterward |
| Layover | Pay when the truck is held overnight or must wait a full extra day | Whether it is paid and the flat amount |
| TONU (truck ordered not used) | Pay when the load is cancelled after you were dispatched or arrived | Whether it is paid and the amount |
| Lumper | A fee paid to unload at the receiver | Who pays, and whether the broker reimburses with a receipt |
The free time before detention starts varies by broker and shipper. Some rate confirmations state it and some leave it out, so do not assume a number. If it is not written down, ask.
A worked example (illustrative numbers)
Suppose a rate confirmation allows 2 hours of free time and pays detention at $50 per hour. The truck checks in at 8:00 and is loaded and released at 13:00. That is 5 hours on site. Two hours are free, so 3 hours are billable: 3 x $50 = $150. These are example numbers to show the math, not typical rates or a promise of what any broker pays.
How to document a claim
- Record the arrival time and the time you were released, with the load number
- Get the shipper or receiver to sign or stamp the in and out times when possible
- Save the ELD or GPS record, and take a photo of the check-in sheet if there is one
- Message the broker as soon as the wait runs past the free time, in writing, so there is a timestamp
- Send the claim with the signed POD and your invoice, following the broker's process
Brokers often can only pay detention they can bill back to the shipper. A late or undocumented request is the most common reason it gets denied.
Lumper fees
Ask before you arrive whether a lumper is required and who pays. Get a receipt for any amount you pay yourself. Without an agreement and a receipt, a reimbursement is difficult to collect.
How Truck Peak helps
We help document and request eligible accessorial charges under the signed rate confirmation. Approval and payment remain subject to the broker and the load terms. If you work with any dispatcher, ask in writing whether their fee is calculated on accessorials, so there are no surprises on your settlement.