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Surprise fees kill margin. This blueprint shows the common accessorials & surcharges across modes, and the exact steps to prevent, negotiate, or contest them.
Primer
What counts as an accessorial?
Anything billed beyond the base linehaul/port-to-port. Examples:
- Pickup/delivery extras: liftgate, inside delivery, limited access, redelivery.
- Time-based: waiting time, detention, demurrage, storage.
- Docs/admin: AMS/ENS, Telex release, change of destination.
Time bombs
Detention & demurrage (D&D)
Most D&D is a process failure, not bad luck. Put timers on the handoffs that matter.
Pro tip: book earliest pickup windows and use appointment APIs where offered.
Mode-by-mode surcharge map
Fuel mechanics
Most carriers peg a weekly/monthly fuel index. Negotiate index, lag, and cap.
Seasonal & event-driven
Budget for peak surcharges, GRIs, strikes, & weather. Track them like a calendar.
Prevent, negotiate, contest — quick matrix
| Charge | Prevent | Negotiate | Contest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detention/Demurrage | Pre-clear docs, early gate pickup, live milestones | Free time ↑, tiered rates, stop-the-clock on port closures | Provide timestamps (terminal/EDI/Gate), show carrier faults |
| Redelivery | Appointment accuracy, contact validation, access checks | 1 free redelivery / month or % of volume | POD evidence of failed attempt vs bad address |
| Liftgate/Inside | Checkout asks building type; SKU dims correct | Bundle-rate or threshold-based waivers | Audit dims/weight mismatch; photo proof |
| Fuel | Mode/corridor mix, consolidate, cube-out | Cap, index choice, lag, corridor multipliers | Verify index math; misapplied week |
Pre-tender checklist
Free-time tiers
Fuel cap/index transparency
Appointment SLA
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