Freight Glossary
Liftgate Service
Liftgate service is the use of a hydraulic platform mounted on the rear of a truck to raise or lower freight between the truck bed and ground level, required when a delivery location has no loading dock. It is typically an accessorial charge in traditional LTL. Most standard liftgates handle pallets up to 2,500 pounds, though heavy duty units can support 4,000 pounds or more.
Why it matters
Failing to request a liftgate when one is needed results in a refused delivery, a redelivery charge, and lost time. The accessorial fee for liftgate in traditional LTL can run $50 to $150 or more and is a common invoice surprise. A single missed liftgate request that causes a failed delivery can cost $200 to $400 when you add the redelivery fee, detention, and rescheduling.
When to use it
Request liftgate service any time freight is being delivered to a location without a loading dock, such as a retail storefront, small business, or residential address, where freight cannot be rolled off the truck to grade level. Maintain a delivery location database that flags which addresses require liftgate so the need is caught at booking rather than at delivery.
How Warp thinks about it
Warp's fleet includes box trucks with liftgate capability for locations that require it. Because Warp prices all-inclusively by the pallet, liftgate needs are factored into the delivery configuration rather than added as a separate fee. Warp's 9,000+ cargo vans and box trucks include liftgate equipped vehicles dispatched based on delivery requirements confirmed during booking.