Typical extras on a container drayage bill
Accessorials pay for whatever the base rate does not cover, and on container moves they cluster around equipment, time and exceptions. A dry run, for example, is billed when the driver arrives but cannot take the container because of a hold, a missing release or a lost appointment. Each item and its rate should be on the rate sheet agreed before the move.
- Chassis usage, chassis splits and pool fees
- Driver waiting time at the terminal or the dock
- Pre-pulls, yard storage and dry runs
- Overweight, hazardous cargo and extra-stop charges
Pinning down accessorials at quote time
An all-in quote and an itemized quote can describe the same move very differently. Ask which accessorials are included, which are billed per occurrence, and what triggers each one, such as how long a driver may wait before waiting time starts. Quotes often list accessorials as possible rather than expected charges, which is why invoices on difficult moves can land well above the base rate. Agree on the evidence for each charge as well, such as gate times or signed delivery receipts.
Ocean surcharges are a separate bucket
Some teams call every extra charge an accessorial, but ocean carriers usually call theirs surcharges. BAF, PSS and terminal handling charges are priced by the carrier or terminal and attach to the ocean leg or port handling. Accessorials are usually set by the trucker, railroad or warehouse for services on land. Keeping the two apart in cost reports shows which charges came from the booking and which came from how the delivery went.
Example
A drayage invoice for ONEU9051279 lists the base rate plus chassis usage, a chassis split and driver waiting time at the consignee's dock.
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Questions
What does Accessorial Charges mean?
Accessorial charges are fees for services or conditions beyond the basic freight or line-haul rate, such as waiting time, chassis use, storage or special handling. In container shipping they show up most on drayage and other trucking invoices.
Are accessorial charges negotiable?
Many are. Rates for chassis, waiting time and storage are often set in a customer's rate agreement and can depend on volume. One-off charges such as dry runs are worth checking against what actually happened at the terminal.
Why is a drayage invoice higher than the quote?
Usually because accessorials were triggered during the move, such as waiting time, a dry run or extra chassis days. Ask for the evidence behind each line, such as appointment records and terminal timestamps.