Accessorial Charge Management Services

Accessorial charges are one of the most significant and most overlooked cost drivers in freight. Including fuel surcharges, these fees can represent as much as 70% of your total transportation spend, and for many shippers, accessorial costs alone account for 30% to 40% of your entire freight bill.

General rate increases (GRIs) tend to result in a larger percentage increase on accessorial charges than on base rates, which means these charges can grow more quickly than other line items on your total freight spend. A proactive management strategy keeps your invoices aligned with fair, negotiated terms.

Broussard Logistics helps businesses identify overcharges and negotiate lower rates across industries, delivering average accessorial savings of more than 25%.

Uncovering the Hidden Fees in Your Freight Invoices

Freight invoices are complex documents, and when you are working with multiple carriers, each operating under their own tariffs and fee structures, accessorial charges can be buried in invoices, misapplied to shipments or inconsistent with contracted terms. Without a detailed audit process, businesses can miss significant savings opportunities. Discover the common accessorial charges we review on your behalf:

Our Process for Identifying and Eliminating Excess Charges

We combine technology with negotiating experience to reduce accessorial costs for our clients. Learn how we do it.

Cloud-Based Transportation Management Software (TMS) Analysis

Our Newblims TMS centralizes your shipping data and gives our team the visibility to conduct a thorough review of every invoice. The platform automatically compares each charge against your contracted rates, flagging discrepancies for our team to review and dispute on your behalf. This technology-driven approach allows us to work through high invoice volumes and surface potential overcharges before they accumulate into higher costs over time.

Comprehensive Benchmark Review

With more than $1 billion in annual freight payables under management and deep industry data, we have developed an extensive benchmarking database that helps us compare your accessorial costs against real-world market rates. This process provides a clear, evidence-based view of where your freight spend stands relative to what carriers offer comparable shippers, enabling us to build a negotiation strategy grounded in data and market context.

Expert Contract Negotiation

We draw on our benchmarking data, audit findings and long-standing carrier relationships to negotiate on your behalf, working to lower accessorial rates and improve the overall terms of your shipping contracts. Accessorial charges are negotiable, and our goal is to facilitate agreements that reflect fair rates consistent with current market conditions.

The Benefits of Proactive Accessorial Management

When your team has a clear view of accessorial charges, you benefit from:

Reduced costs: Our clients achieve measurable reductions in accessorial spend, with savings averaging more than 25%. Lower freight costs support stronger margins and provide greater flexibility in the marketplace.
Enhanced team efficiency: Our automated audit and payment process frees your team to focus on higher-value operations.
Stronger profit margins: Lower accessorial spend reduces overhead freight costs, helping protect your margins and free up your budget for other operational priorities.
Improved decision-making: Our detailed reporting gives you clear visibility into your shipping expenses across all carriers, making it easier to analyze freight data, surface trends and identify opportunities for ongoing savings.

Partner With an Expert in Freight Cost Reduction

Effective accessorial charge management requires data, expertise and a thorough understanding of carrier pricing. We leverage logistics knowledge dating back to 1978 and experience working with manufacturing, eCommerce, distribution and energy businesses of different sizes to help you achieve your freight cost reduction goals and strengthen your supply chain performance.

Request a consultation today to speak with a logistics expert about how Broussard Logistics can support your logistics and supply chain objectives.

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