Inside Delivery

Inside delivery is an LTL and parcel accessorial applied when the carrier is required to move freight past the immediate delivery threshold – the back of the truck or the receiving dock – into an interior location specified by the consignee. Standard freight delivery means the carrier brings the shipment to the dock or tailgate. Inside delivery extends that obligation to a room, floor, or area within the building, and it often pairs with liftgate service when the location also lacks dock access.

Carriers typically charge $50 to $200 or more for inside delivery, and the fee may increase based on shipment weight, number of handling units, or whether stairs or elevators are involved. Some carriers cap inside delivery distance – for example, within 50 feet of the entrance – while others define it more loosely. The charge covers the additional labor, time, and equipment the driver needs to complete the delivery beyond normal responsibilities.

Inside delivery is common for shipments to restaurants, retail stores, medical offices, schools, and residential locations. For food and beverage shippers fulfilling orders to smaller accounts – independent grocers, restaurants, or institutional buyers – inside delivery may be expected by default but not communicated on the order. When the requirement isn't flagged at booking, it triggers redelivery attempts or retroactive accessorial charges, both of which cost more than getting it right the first time.

Shippers managing diverse delivery profiles benefit from tagging each destination with its specific service requirements – inside delivery, liftgate, appointment, limited access – so these needs flow into carrier selection and quoting automatically.