In a dynamic industry like trucking, many projects contain a variety of additional charges (also known as accessorials). Ideally, though, you still want to have the final invoice match the original quote as closely as possible. One way to do that is to be aware of the potential additional charges you may encounter and avoid them if you can.

Looking to keep the budget for your next trucking project in check? Here are five common additional charges in the trucking industry and how to deal with them!

1. Detention Fees

Detention fees occur when a truck driver arrives at the scheduled time, but the load isn’t ready for pick-up yet. In general, detention fees are charged by the hour. Most drivers budget two hours from the time they get to the location to the time they leave. The easiest way to avoid these fees is to ensure that the freight will be loaded within the two hours allotted.

2. Truck Ordered Not Used (TONU) Fees

A TONU fee is charged when one of your trucks is requested but, for some reason, it doesn’t get used. For example, you may realize at the last minute that you need a different type of trailer for the shipment, so you cancel it. In these cases, you’ll likely need to pay a TONU fee. If this sort of thing happens a lot, your planning process may need work.

3. Drop Trailer Charges

A drop trailer charge occurs when a driver leaves a trailer at a delivery site, then comes back later to retrieve it and drive it to the next destination. Drop trailers are common when hauling commodities that need more than a day to unload. If you handle these shipments often, consider implementing a drop trailer program for your carriers.

4. Additional Driver Credentials

If you require your drivers to have extra credentials (such as TWIC for unrestricted access to ports), you’ll be charged an additional fee. This fee means you’re paying for the driver’s specialized expertise, which tends to be in shorter supply than the typical shipping solutions. Before asking drivers for extra credentials, make sure you need them.

5. Extra Processing Fees

Credit card processing fees come in four main types: interchange-plus, flat-rated, tiered, and subscription pricing. Of these, the tiered pricing structure tends to be the least favorable since it allows your payment processor to hide its markups. Only one of these models will be the right fit for your trucking company, so make sure to research them very closely.