Liftgate Fee
A liftgate fee is an accessorial charge applied when a freight carrier uses the truck's hydraulic tail platform (the liftgate) to lower freight from trailer height to ground level at pickup or delivery. Liftgates are required when the location has no loading dock or forklift. Traditional LTL carriers charge $75 to $200 per liftgate stop, and some bill pickup and delivery as separate liftgate events on the same shipment.
Why it matters
Liftgate fees are one of the most common surprise charges on freight invoices because they are often added after the fact when the driver arrives and discovers no dock. A shipment quoted at $400 that adds a $150 liftgate fee at delivery and another at pickup turns into a $700 invoice. For shippers delivering to retail stores, restaurants, or residential addresses, liftgate accessorials can add 20 to 40 percent to the line haul cost.
When to use it
Specify a liftgate at booking any time the pickup or delivery location lacks a loading dock or forklift. This includes most residential deliveries, retail storefronts, restaurants, schools, churches, construction sites, and small businesses without warehouse equipment. Pre-declaring the liftgate at booking also avoids the upcharge most carriers apply for unscheduled liftgate requests at the time of stop.
How Warp thinks about it
Warp builds liftgate into the all-inclusive per-pallet rate when needed. There is no separate liftgate fee, no after-the-fact accessorial, and no surprise invoice line item. Specify residential or no-dock at booking and the rate already covers the equipment.
Frequently asked questions about liftgate fee
What is liftgate fee?
A liftgate fee is an accessorial charge applied when a freight carrier uses the truck's hydraulic tail platform (the liftgate) to lower freight from trailer height to ground level at pickup or delivery. Liftgates are required when the location has no loading dock or forklift. Traditional LTL carriers charge $75 to $200 per liftgate stop, and some bill pickup and delivery as separate liftgate events on the same shipment.
Why does liftgate fee matter in freight?
Liftgate fees are one of the most common surprise charges on freight invoices because they are often added after the fact when the driver arrives and discovers no dock. A shipment quoted at $400 that adds a $150 liftgate fee at delivery and another at pickup turns into a $700 invoice. For shippers delivering to retail stores, restaurants, or residential addresses, liftgate accessorials can add 20 to 40 percent to the line haul cost.
When should you use liftgate fee?
Specify a liftgate at booking any time the pickup or delivery location lacks a loading dock or forklift. This includes most residential deliveries, retail storefronts, restaurants, schools, churches, construction sites, and small businesses without warehouse equipment. Pre-declaring the liftgate at booking also avoids the upcharge most carriers apply for unscheduled liftgate requests at the time of stop.
How does Warp handle liftgate fee?
Warp builds liftgate into the all-inclusive per-pallet rate when needed. There is no separate liftgate fee, no after-the-fact accessorial, and no surprise invoice line item. Specify residential or no-dock at booking and the rate already covers the equipment.