Why Redelivery Charges Differ

Redelivery charges cover a second attempt to deliver freight after the first one failed. The amount varies because carriers set their own tariffs, base charges on different factors and add storage for time the freight waits. Two failed deliveries of similar size can produce very different bills.

Knowing what drives the charge helps you check it.

Factors in Redelivery Charges

• The carrier’s published tariff or contract rate
• Freight weight, size or pallet count
• Distance back to the delivery point
• Storage at the terminal between attempts
• Extra services such as liftgate or appointment fees

Rates vary widely by carrier, so no figures appear here.

The Cause of the Failure

The reason for the failed attempt shapes who pays more than how much. A closed receiver, a missed appointment or a wrong address may all lead to redelivery. The contract and the bill of lading terms usually assign the cost.

The article on freight redelivery explains why first attempts fail.

Storage Between Attempts

Terminals are not built for storage. Many carriers charge for freight held past a free period. As a result, a slow fix adds to the bill each day.

So act quickly after a failed attempt. Fix the cause, confirm the new appointment and pass the details to the carrier.

Reading Redelivery Charges on an Invoice

Check each line against the carrier’s tariff or your contract. Confirm the dates of each attempt, the storage days and any added services. Then compare them with the delivery receipts and driver notes.

Federal rules require motor carrier bills of lading to show basic shipment details such as consignee and destination. The receipts and bills regulation sets those terms. If the address on the bill was wrong, that record shows where the error started.

Disputing a Charge

If the carrier caused the failure, ask for the charge to be removed. Provide appointment confirmations, messages and receiving hours. Carriers often review disputes faster when records are attached.

Preventing Repeat Charges

Most redelivery charges come from a few avoidable causes. Confirm addresses and receiving hours, book appointments and send reference numbers with the order.

For example, a hypothetical office furniture seller might add a receiving hours check to every new customer order. That check could cut repeat attempts sharply. The guide on second delivery attempt planning covers what to fix before rebooking.

Tracking the Pattern

Keep a simple log of every redelivery: date, customer, cause and charge. After a few months, the log shows which customers or lanes produce most of the cost. Then you can change instructions for those accounts or raise the issue with the customer directly.