Inside Delivery
Inside delivery is a freight service where the driver or delivery team brings freight beyond the threshold of a building, past the loading dock or front door, into the interior of a facility. Standard delivery only requires placement at the entrance or dock. A retail store receiving a pallet of merchandise placed inside the stockroom rather than left at the rear entrance is an example of inside delivery.
Why it matters
Inside delivery is a common accessorial charge in traditional LTL that shippers often forget to budget for. Failing to specify it leads to freight left at the door and additional trips or costs to move it to its final interior location. The accessorial charge for inside delivery typically runs $50 to $150 per shipment in traditional LTL, adding up fast across hundreds of store deliveries.
When to use it
Request inside delivery when shipping to locations without dock facilities, retail stores receiving product in the sales floor area, or any receiver who needs freight placed in a specific interior location beyond the dock or entrance. For multi-store retail programs, confirm inside delivery requirements at each location since store layouts and receiving protocols vary widely.
How Warp thinks about it
Warp's store delivery and final-mile services can include inside delivery configurations for retail store replenishment, ensuring product reaches its designated interior location, not just the store entrance. With 9,000+ cargo vans and box trucks, Warp's fleet handles the hands on delivery work that store locations require without tacking on accessorial fees.
Inside delivery vs threshold vs white glove: how the levels stack
Freight delivery has four levels of door-side service. Curbside is the baseline: the driver lowers the freight to the curb or driveway with a liftgate and leaves. Threshold is one step in: the driver brings the freight inside the first dry interior space, typically a garage or building lobby. Inside delivery is two steps in: the driver brings the freight to a specific interior location named on the BOL, like a retail stockroom, an office floor, or a residential bedroom. White glove is full-service: the driver (usually a 2-person team) brings the freight inside, unpacks it, sets it in place, removes packaging, and may do basic assembly. Each step up adds $50 to $300 per shipment in traditional LTL, with white glove running $200 to $600. Inside delivery itself typically runs $50 to $150 per pallet, with stair carries, long carries, and limited-access locations adding further surcharges.
Common inside-delivery surcharges that stack on top
Inside delivery often triggers additional surcharges that shippers miss at booking. Stair carry adds $25 to $75 per flight of stairs. Long carry (more than 75 to 100 feet from truck to interior placement) adds $50 to $150. Elevator-only buildings add $50 to $100 because they slow the delivery. Limited-access (museum, school, military, construction site) adds $75 to $200 because of security check-in time. Two-person delivery (required for items over 100 pounds or 10 feet) adds $75 to $200. For shippers running heavy retail-store delivery programs, the inside-delivery line item often combines liftgate plus inside plus long carry plus 2-person, which can total $300 to $600 per stop on top of the linehaul. Building these into the booked rate upfront avoids invoice surprises.
Delivery service tiers and typical accessorial costs in traditional LTL
| Tier | What is included | Typical fee per shipment | Common use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curbside (standard) | Liftgate to curb, driver leaves | Included or $50 to $150 liftgate | Commercial dock with no inside requirement |
| Threshold delivery | Curbside + first dry interior space (garage, lobby) | $25 to $75 above liftgate | Residential delivery to door |
| Inside delivery | Threshold + specific interior location (stockroom, office, room) | $50 to $150 above liftgate | Retail stockroom, office floor, residential interior |
| White glove | Inside + unpack + place + debris removal + light assembly | $200 to $600 | Furniture, appliances, medical equipment |
| Stair carry (add-on) | Per flight up or down | $25 to $75 per flight | Walk-up apartments, basement deliveries |
| Long carry (add-on) | Beyond 75 to 100 feet from truck | $50 to $150 | Campus, large warehouse, mall |
| 2-person delivery (add-on) | Two-person team for heavy/oversized | $75 to $200 | Items over 100 lbs or 10 feet |
Frequently asked questions about inside delivery
What is inside delivery?
Inside delivery is a freight service where the driver or delivery team brings freight beyond the threshold of a building, past the loading dock or front door, into the interior of a facility. Standard delivery only requires placement at the entrance or dock. A retail store receiving a pallet of merchandise placed inside the stockroom rather than left at the rear entrance is an example of inside delivery.
Why does inside delivery matter in freight?
Inside delivery is a common accessorial charge in traditional LTL that shippers often forget to budget for. Failing to specify it leads to freight left at the door and additional trips or costs to move it to its final interior location. The accessorial charge for inside delivery typically runs $50 to $150 per shipment in traditional LTL, adding up fast across hundreds of store deliveries.
When should you use inside delivery?
Request inside delivery when shipping to locations without dock facilities, retail stores receiving product in the sales floor area, or any receiver who needs freight placed in a specific interior location beyond the dock or entrance. For multi-store retail programs, confirm inside delivery requirements at each location since store layouts and receiving protocols vary widely.
How does Warp handle inside delivery?
Warp's store delivery and final-mile services can include inside delivery configurations for retail store replenishment, ensuring product reaches its designated interior location, not just the store entrance. With 9,000+ cargo vans and box trucks, Warp's fleet handles the hands on delivery work that store locations require without tacking on accessorial fees.
How is inside delivery different from threshold delivery?
Threshold delivery places freight in the first dry interior space inside the building, typically a garage, lobby, or just past the front door. Inside delivery places freight in a specific named interior location like a retail stockroom, an office on a specific floor, or a residential bedroom. Threshold is one step in; inside is two steps in. Most LTL carriers price these as separate accessorials at different fee levels.
Does inside delivery require a liftgate?
In most cases yes. Inside delivery requires the freight to come off the truck, which typically requires a liftgate unless the location has a dock. Some inside-delivery quotes bundle liftgate into the inside-delivery fee; others bill them separately. Confirm at booking which line items are included to avoid double-charging surprises.
What surcharges commonly stack on top of inside delivery?
Stair carry ($25 to $75 per flight), long carry ($50 to $150 if over 75 to 100 feet from truck), 2-person delivery ($75 to $200 for items over 100 pounds or 10 feet), elevator-only buildings ($50 to $100), and limited-access locations like schools or military bases ($75 to $200). On retail store delivery programs, the combined accessorial stack can run $300 to $600 per stop on top of the base linehaul.
Does Warp charge a separate inside-delivery fee?
No. Warp prices LTL on an all-inclusive per-pallet basis. Inside delivery to retail stockrooms, residential rooms, or office floors is included in the quoted rate when flagged at booking. Liftgate, threshold, and standard inside delivery all roll into the per-pallet number with no separate accessorial line items.