Accessorial Charges Calculator
Calculate freight accessorial charges including liftgate, inside delivery, appointment scheduling, and residential delivery fees for LTL shipments.
LTL Freight Cost Calculator
Estimate less-than-truckload shipping costs using base rate per CWT, fuel surcharge, accessorial charges, and discount. Budget LTL freight accurately.
lbs
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Base Charge (Tariff)⧉
$540.00
12.0 CWT × $45.00
Discount Savings⧉
$378.00
70% off tariff rate
Net Line Haul⧉
$162.00
After carrier discount
Fuel Surcharge⧉
$45.36
28% of net line haul
Total Accessorials⧉
$75.00
Base $75 + LG $0 + Inside $0
Total LTL Cost⧉
$282.36
All-in shipment cost
Cost per Pound⧉
$0.235
$282.36 ÷ 1,200 lbs
Cost per CWT⧉
$23.53
Effective per-hundredweight rate
Cost Breakdown
Line Haul
Fuel
Acc
Discount Impact
30% you pay
Tariff: $540.00 → Net: $162.00 (saving $378.00)
Weight Break Analysis
| Weight (lbs) | Tariff | Net | FSC | Total | $/lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 | $225.00 | $67.50 | $18.90 | $161.40 | $0.323 |
| 1,000 | $450.00 | $135.00 | $37.80 | $247.80 | $0.248 |
| 2,000 | $900.00 | $270.00 | $75.60 | $420.60 | $0.210 |
| 5,000 | $2,250.00 | $675.00 | $189.00 | $939.00 | $0.188 |
| 10,000 | $4,500.00 | $1,350.00 | $378.00 | $1,803.00 | $0.180 |
| 20,000 | $9,000.00 | $2,700.00 | $756.00 | $3,531.00 | $0.177 |
NMFC Freight Class Reference
| Class | Density (lbs/ft³) | Example Commodities |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | >50 | Sand, gravel, steel |
| 70 | 15–22.5 | Food items, automotive parts |
| 100 | 9–10.5 | Wine, caskets, boat covers |
| 150 | 6–7 | Auto parts, bookcases |
| 200 | 4–5 | Mattresses, auto sheet metal |
| 300 | 2–3 | Wood cabinets, tables, chairs |
| 500 | <1 | Styrofoam, ping pong balls |
Planning notes, formulas, and examples
About the LTL Freight Cost Calculator
Less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping is the most common method for moving palletized freight that doesn't fill an entire trailer. LTL pricing is based on the rate per hundredweight (CWT), which varies by freight class, origin-destination lane, and carrier. Additional charges include fuel surcharges, accessorial fees, and any applicable discounts.
Calculating LTL freight costs accurately requires combining the base CWT rate with the shipment weight, then layering on fuel and accessorials. Discounts from negotiated carrier contracts can significantly reduce the final cost, often ranging from 50% to 85% off the published tariff rate.
This calculator takes all the key variables — weight, CWT rate, fuel surcharge percentage, accessorial charges, and your negotiated discount — and computes the estimated total LTL freight cost. Use it to compare carrier quotes and budget for your shipping expenses.
Use the result to compare operating scenarios, pressure-test assumptions, and rerun the model when volumes, rates, or service targets change.
When This Page Helps
LTL pricing is complex, with many components that can make quotes difficult to compare apples-to-apples. This calculator helps you break down costs into their component parts, understand how discounts and fuel surcharges affect the total, and make informed decisions about carrier selection and shipment consolidation.
How to Use the Inputs
- Enter the total shipment weight in pounds.
- Enter the base rate per CWT from your carrier tariff.
- Enter the fuel surcharge percentage.
- Enter any accessorial charges (liftgate, inside delivery, etc.).
- Enter your negotiated discount percentage off the base rate.
- Review the line-item cost breakdown and total estimate.
Formula used
Base Charge = (Weight / 100) × CWT Rate
Discounted Base = Base Charge × (1 − Discount %)
Fuel Surcharge = Discounted Base × FSC %
Total Cost = Discounted Base + Fuel Surcharge + AccessorialsExample Calculation
Result: Total LTL Cost = $291.60
Base Charge = (1,200 / 100) × $45 = $540. Discounted Base = $540 × (1 − 0.70) = $162. Fuel Surcharge = $162 × 0.28 = $45.36. Accessorials = $75. Total = $162 + $45.36 + $75 = $282.36.
Tips & Best Practices
- Always compare net cost (after discount) rather than published tariff rates.
- Fuel surcharges are recalculated weekly based on the DOE diesel index — budget for fluctuations.
- Consolidating smaller shipments into fewer, heavier shipments reduces per-CWT costs.
- Request quotes from multiple carriers — rates vary significantly by lane.
- Consider accessorial-free alternatives: dock delivery instead of liftgate, for example.
- Audit your LTL invoices monthly — billing errors are common in LTL shipping.
- Use minimum charge thresholds — very light shipments may be charged at the carrier's minimum.
Understanding LTL Pricing Components
LTL pricing has four main components: base freight charge, fuel surcharge, accessorial fees, and discounts. The base charge uses the CWT rate from the carrier's tariff, which varies by freight class, weight break, and lane. Understanding each component helps you identify opportunities to reduce costs.
Negotiating Better LTL Rates
Volume commitment is the strongest lever in LTL negotiations. Carriers reward consistent, predictable freight with deeper discounts. Other negotiation points include fuel surcharge caps, accessorial fee waivers, and guaranteed transit times. Annual bid processes comparing multiple carriers keep rates competitive.
LTL vs Other Shipping Modes
LTL makes sense for shipments between 150 and 10,000 lbs that don't justify a full truckload. Below 150 lbs, parcel carriers are usually cheaper. Above 10,000 lbs, partial truckload (PTL) or volume LTL rates may offer savings. Always compare across modes for shipments near these thresholds.
Sources & Methodology
Last updated:
Frequently Asked Questions
CWT stands for hundredweight, or the cost per 100 pounds of freight. LTL carriers publish rates per CWT for each freight class and lane combination. Multiply your shipment weight (in hundreds of pounds) by the CWT rate to get the base freight charge.
LTL discounts off published tariff rates typically range from 50% to 85%, depending on volume, lane consistency, and negotiation. High-volume shippers with consistent lanes often achieve discounts at the upper end of this range.
LTL fuel surcharges are based on the weekly DOE (Department of Energy) national average diesel price. Each carrier has a fuel surcharge table that maps diesel prices to FSC percentages, typically ranging from 20% to 35% of the base freight charge.
Common accessorials include liftgate delivery ($50-$150), inside delivery ($50-$100), residential delivery ($50-$100), limited access ($50-$75), notification/appointment ($15-$25), and hazmat fees ($25-$100). Keep in mind that individual circumstances can significantly affect the outcome.
Most LTL carriers have a minimum charge (often $100-$300) that applies to very light shipments. Even if your calculated CWT charge is lower, you'll pay at least the minimum. This makes LTL uneconomical for very small shipments.
LTL rates decrease per CWT as weight increases (weight breaks). A 5,000 lb shipment has a lower per-CWT rate than a 500 lb shipment in the same class. Carriers offer break points at 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, and 10000 lbs.
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