Freight Carriers Are Quietly Raising Accessorial Charges: What You Need to Know
In 2025, it’s not just base rates going up. Freight carriers are steadily increasing accessorial charges, and many shippers aren’t catching it until the invoice shows up.
What’s Happening
Carriers like FedEx and UPS have raised a range of surcharges this year (U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics):
- FedEx increased Additional Handling and Oversize fees in July 2025. Oversize surcharges jumped nearly 18.5%, and unauthorized package penalties rose by over 30%.
- UPS responded with similar hikes, increasing Delivery Area and Large Package surcharges by up to 28%.
- In the LTL space, accessorials like detention, reweighs, and limited access are being applied more aggressively and with less tolerance for exceptions.
These fees used to be minor line items. Now they’re material, and growing fast.
Why It Matters for Freight Audit and Payables
Accessorial charges often appear as secondary fees, but they’re quietly eating into transportation budgets. Without a strong freight audit process, these charges may be:
- Misapplied based on service type or location
- Overbilled beyond published tariff rates
- Missed entirely if they don’t stand out in your invoice review process
What You Should Be Doing Now
- Track Key Surcharges – Focus on trends in Additional Handling, Delivery Area, Oversize, Liftgate, and Detention charges.
- Update Validation Rules – Ensure your audit software or manual checks reflect the latest carrier rate schedules.
- Dispute Early – Identify and challenge inaccurate charges before payment. Carriers are less likely to credit once paid.
- Review Contracts – Some of these fees can be negotiated or capped with the right service agreements.
- Communicate Internally – Help shipping and warehouse teams understand what triggers these charges, especially dimensions and access restrictions.
Final Takeaway
Accessorials are no longer background noise. They’re front and center in your total freight cost. With carriers steadily increasing rates in 2025, a proactive audit strategy is essential. Shippers who stay alert and validate each charge are going to save money and avoid overpaying for services that were once considered minor.
