Liftgate Fee

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What is a Liftgate Fee?

A liftgate fee is an additional charge applied when a carrier needs to use a truck’s hydraulic or electric liftgate to load or unload freight. It covers the equipment use and the extra handling time involved, and is most common when shipments are heavy or bulky, palletised freight must be lowered to ground level, or the pickup or delivery point does not have a loading dock or material handling equipment.

Using a liftgate supports safer handling and smoother delivery, helping reduce damage and injury risk while ensuring the freight can be moved properly at locations with limited facilities.

When is a Liftgate Fee Charged?

  • Construction sites: Limited unloading facilities on site.

  • Small businesses: No designated loading bay or handling equipment.

  • Residential deliveries: Freight is too heavy to unload manually.
     

How to Minimise Liftgate Fees

While these fees are sometimes unavoidable, they can often be reduced with better planning and clear communication about delivery conditions. Practical ways to manage these charges include:

  • Consolidate shipments: Reduce the number of drop-offs that need liftgate service.

  • Use suitable delivery points: Where possible, deliver to locations with a dock or forklift access.

  • Agree terms upfront: Confirm access requirements early and negotiate liftgate charges where volume or lanes allow.