Accessorial Charges are additional fees a carrier adds when a shipment needs services beyond standard pickup and delivery. This can include things like liftgate service at locations without a dock, inside delivery, residential or limited‑access deliveries (schools, job sites, hospitals, etc.), appointment or time‑specific deliveries, detention when a driver has to wait, or handling oversized freight. In short, if your shipment requires extra time, labor, special equipment, or a non‑standard location, the carrier will add those costs as accessorial charges on top of the base freight rate and fuel.

A backhaul is the return leg of a truck’s trip after the initial delivery. Instead of running empty, the carrier uses that return trip to haul another shipment. Backhauls help carriers reduce empty miles and can sometimes provide more cost‑effective rates for shippers whose freight fits those routes and schedules.

A Bill of Lading is the legal document that travels with your freight. It lists who is shipping (shipper), who is receiving (consignee), the pickup and delivery addresses, the freight details (piece count, weight, NMFC/class, description), and any accessorials or special instructions. The driver signs the BOL when they pick up and again at delivery, and those signatures serve as proof of pickup and proof of delivery. Carriers also use the BOL to rate and invoice the shipment, so accurate information on the BOL helps prevent rebills, delays, and claims issues.

LTL (Less‑Than‑Truckload) is freight shipping where your shipment shares space on a trailer with other freight, so you only pay for the portion of space and weight you use instead of a full truck.

A hauler is the company responsible for moving your freight from point A to point B. For CB Shipper customers, a hauler can be a vetted asset-based carrier (a trucking company that owns and operates trucks) or a vetted broker (a logistics company that arranges transportation with vetted carrier partners). Whether your shipment is handled directly by a carrier or coordinated through a broker, the hauler is the party managing the move, tracking the load, and ensuring pickup and delivery according to the agreed terms.

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