How Much Does Liftgate Delivery Cost?
Learn how liftgate charges are calculated, see dated public carrier examples, and identify the shipment and stop details needed for an accurate quote.
There is no single industry-wide liftgate price. Current public LTL tariffs show that a carrier may charge by hundredweight, subject to a minimum and maximum, while customer-specific pricing agreements can create exceptions.
As concrete public examples, Old Dominion’s accessorial schedule based on Tariff ODFL 100-Q, effective January 7, 2026, lists hydraulic liftgate service at $4.40 per hundredweight, with a $105 minimum and $330 maximum. Estes’ accessorial schedule, effective November 17, 2025, lists $4.95 per 100 pounds, with a $75 minimum and $350 maximum. These are dated carrier examples, not a universal range or a quote for another carrier.
The reliable cost for a shipment is the amount returned under the selected carrier’s current rules and the shipper’s applicable pricing agreement.
How hundredweight pricing works
In freight pricing, one hundredweight, written as cwt, equals 100 pounds. A per-cwt liftgate charge multiplies the shipment weight covered by the tariff rule by the published rate, then applies the carrier’s stated minimum or maximum.
The basic structure is:
liftgate charge = per-cwt rate × applicable hundredweight, subject to the tariff minimum and maximum
For a lighter shipment, the calculated amount may fall below the minimum, so the minimum applies. In the middle of the range, the per-cwt calculation may control. For a sufficiently heavy shipment, the maximum may cap the published charge.
Do not perform that calculation without reading the actual tariff item. Carriers can define rounding, applicable weight, geography, stop, exclusions, and charge application differently. A contract or negotiated pricing agreement may also replace or modify the public schedule.
Pickup and delivery can be priced separately
Liftgate need is evaluated at each stop. An origin without a suitable dock or forklift may need pickup liftgate service. A destination without suitable unloading equipment may need delivery liftgate service. A shipment can require one, both, or neither.
Some carrier systems use separate accessorial codes for pickup and delivery liftgate. Estes, for example, publishes separate API codes for delivery liftgate and pickup liftgate. That does not mean every carrier automatically doubles a single fee when both stops need service. It means the quote and tariff must be checked for each stop.
When comparing rates, confirm:
- Which stop has liftgate service selected.
- Whether both stops are included when both need it.
- Whether the charge shown is per stop, per shipment, or applied under another tariff method.
- Whether the customer pricing agreement changes the public tariff amount.
Other accessorials can increase the total
The liftgate line item may be only one part of a dockless pickup or delivery. Residential, limited-access, inside, appointment, notification, redelivery, and storage services are separate categories under many carrier tariffs.
A residential address does not make liftgate and residential service the same thing. Residential service is tied to the carrier’s location definition. Liftgate is tied to the equipment needed to transfer freight between trailer and ground. A ground-level business can need a liftgate, and a residence can trigger a residential rule whether or not liftgate is used.
Inside delivery is also separate. Liftgate typically lowers the pallet to the carrier’s standard ground-level delivery point. Moving it beyond that point is governed by the carrier’s inside or specialized delivery service.
This distinction is important when reading a quote. A total that includes liftgate but omits a required residential or limited-access service is not the same service configuration as a rate that includes both.
For the practical difference between two commonly confused services, see liftgate versus inside delivery.
Shipment weight can change the public tariff calculation
Weight matters when the carrier uses a per-cwt schedule. Use the gross shipment weight required by that tariff, not the product’s catalog weight. The pallet, crate, cartons, blocking, film, bands, and other packaging contribute to the shipment as tendered.
An inaccurate weight can make a manual estimate unreliable. It can also lead to a carrier reweigh or another billing adjustment under the applicable rules. Weigh the finished handling units before obtaining the quote.
Weight is also an equipment question. The freight must fit the liftgate’s platform, capacity, balance limits, and operating conditions. A shipment that exceeds the available liftgate’s limits may need prior approval, different equipment, terminal pickup, or another service. It should not be treated as a normal liftgate shipment with a larger fee assumed.
Dimensions and site conditions affect service eligibility
The greatest packaged length and width must fit safely on the liftgate platform with room for the carrier’s handling process. Long, wide, top-heavy, rolling, or offset loads can be incompatible even when their weight is below the equipment rating.
The site also needs firm, level operating space behind the truck. Steep slopes, soft shoulders, loose gravel, low overhead clearance, restricted parking, traffic exposure, gates, or insufficient maneuvering room may prevent safe use.
These conditions do not map to a universal liftgate price increase. Depending on the carrier, they may trigger another accessorial, require special approval, change equipment, or make the planned service unavailable. Describe the site before dispatch rather than assuming the driver can solve it on arrival.
Geography and pricing agreements matter
Public accessorial schedules may limit their stated rates to particular regions. ODFL’s 2026 brochure, for example, notes that its listed rates apply in the 48 contiguous states and may vary for Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.
Carrier coverage, terminal operations, equipment availability, and local tariff provisions can also differ by lane. Customer-specific contracts, discounts, minimums, and exceptions may change what appears in a rate response.
That is why an online article should not turn two carrier examples into a market-wide “typical fee.” Even a current public tariff is only evidence of that carrier’s published schedule for the conditions it describes.
Why old online fee ranges are unreliable
Liftgate articles often repeat broad price ranges without identifying an effective date, carrier, tariff item, geography, weight formula, or customer agreement. Those numbers age quickly and can mix parcel, LTL, truckload, final-mile, or broker pricing.
Before relying on a number, ask:
- Is the source the carrier’s current tariff or accessorial schedule?
- What is the effective date?
- Is the charge flat, per cwt, per stop, or subject to a minimum and maximum?
- Does it apply to the shipment’s geography and service?
- Are pickup and delivery treated separately?
- Could a customer contract override the public amount?
If those details are missing, treat the number as an unverified planning estimate rather than a price.
Request liftgate before dispatch
The service should be included when the quote or booking is prepared. Not every truck is equipped with a suitable liftgate, and the carrier may need to plan equipment for the stop.
If liftgate is omitted but required by the actual conditions, Estes’ current FAQ says an additional charge may apply. For a prepaid shipment, the driver may need terminal authorization from the shipper; in some cases, freight may return to the terminal until suitable equipment or personnel are available and an appointment is arranged.
That is a carrier-specific example, but the broader lesson is reliable: configure the service before pickup or delivery. Adding it later can change the rate and operating plan.
Information needed for an accurate quote
Gather the following before comparing rates:
- Origin and destination ZIP codes and carrier-relevant location types.
- Whether a suitable dock or forklift is present at each stop.
- Whether liftgate is needed at pickup, delivery, or both.
- Greatest packaged dimensions and gross weight of every handling unit.
- Pallet or piece count, commodity description, stackability, and applicable NMFC information.
- Whether the freight fits ordinary liftgate platform and balance constraints.
- Site surface, slope, clearance, gate, parking, and truck-access conditions.
- Receiving hours, appointment or notification needs, and a working contact.
- Residential, limited-access, inside, or other services that also apply.
If the service decision itself is still unclear, review when liftgate service is needed before requesting the rate.
Compare the rate for the complete service
Shipocity is backed by a team with more than 40 years of combined logistics experience. Through established industry relationships, the platform helps businesses compare competitive freight rates for their specific shipment.
With the finished freight and both stop conditions confirmed, compare rates for the required pickup and delivery services.
