Freight reference · Pricing
LTL freight charges: what's on the bill and why it can change
An LTL bill is the linehaul, the fuel surcharge, any extra services and, in some areas, a location surcharge. Here is what each one is, what extras typically cost, and why a bill can come in above the quote.
Most surprises come from something that wasn't on the quote. A weight or size that turned out different, or a service added at the door. Our LTL quotes already include fuel and the services you select, so the bill matches the quote when the details do.
What's on an LTL freight bill
Linehaul
The base charge for moving the freight. The carrier sets it from the weight, the freight class and the distance between the two ZIP codes, takes off any discount, and never goes below its minimum charge.
Fuel surcharge
A percentage of the linehaul that most carriers reset weekly from the Department of Energy's diesel price average. Truckload uses a per-mile surcharge instead; the fuel surcharge calculator shows that one.
Extra services (accessorials)
Anything beyond moving freight from one dock to another: a liftgate, a residential or limited access stop, inside delivery, a call before delivery. Each carrier prices its own. Typical ranges are in the table below.
Location surcharges
Some areas cost more to serve. Many carriers add a small compliance charge in California, a higher charge in dense or remote areas such as Manhattan, the Washington, DC metro or remote rural ZIP codes, and border fees on shipments to and from Canada.
What extras typically add
What each service typically adds on our LTL quotes for a small shipment, per stop that needs it. Each carrier prices its own, and when you select a service the price on your quote already includes it.
| Service | Typical charge | When you need it |
|---|---|---|
| Liftgate (pickup or delivery) | About $35 to $230; commonly $50 to $140 | No loading dock or forklift |
| Residential pickup or delivery | About $40 to $270; commonly $50 to $165 | A home, or a business run from a home |
| Limited access | About $130 to $330, our handling included | Storage units, schools, churches, farms, construction sites and similar |
| Inside pickup or delivery | About $50 to $230; more on heavy freight | Past the door: a garage, or just inside a business |
| Notify before delivery | About $5 to $110 | A call before the driver delivers |
| Re-attempt or redelivery | $150, or the carrier's charge if higher | A missed pickup or a delivery that couldn't be completed |
What each service covers, and how to take a delivery without a dock, is in the residential delivery guide.
Why a bill can come in above the quote
LTL carriers weigh and measure every shipment after pickup. If anything differs from the quote, the carrier adjusts its final invoice; if you booked with Freight Sidekick, we send you a re-bill notice with the amount due. The usual reasons:
A reweigh
The carrier's scale shows more weight than the bill of lading, often because the pallet and packaging weren't counted.
A reclass
Freight class follows density. Bigger or lighter than declared means a lower density and a higher class, which costs more.
A service added at the door
A liftgate nobody booked, or a stop the carrier classes as residential or limited access. Carriers go by the location type, not the room to maneuver.
A second trip or a long piece
A missed pickup or a failed delivery means a re-attempt charge. A piece longer than the carrier's limit carries an overlength charge.
How to keep the bill matching the quote
- Weigh and measure after packing. Include the pallet, and measure the tallest and widest points. The freight class calculator turns those numbers into a density and a class.
- Say what each stop is. Business or home, a dock or forklift or not, and any limited access type such as a storage unit or a school.
- Mention anything unusual. A long piece, a delivery that needs a call first, or a site with set receiving hours.
- If a re-bill arrives, ask for the carrier's scale or inspection record and compare it with your own numbers.
Who pays the freight in the first place is set by the sale's FOB and freight terms.
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