LTL Shipping: Limited Access Overview

Limited access or non-Commercial service is applied when the location you are shipping from or to has some kind of restriction. This service option can be tricky because there are a lot of variations. In this article we cover the various things you should be aware of when requesting a non-commercial shipment to your LTL shipment.

In this article we will answer these questions:

What is limited access service?
What are the types restrictions qualify for this service?
What are some common misconceptions?
How much does this service cost?

limited-access-locations

What is limited access service?
Limited access service applies when the location you are picking up from or delivering to has some kind restriction that hinders a carrier from driving right up and delivering during normal business hours. Carriers charge for this service because these types of locations typically require more of their time to service.

What types of restrictions qualify for limited access?
Locations can have various different restrictions. There are two basic reasons to purchase this kind of service. (click each for specifics)

Tight Spaces
Secure Facility
What are some common misconceptions of limited access services?
Residential service and limited access service are the same. This is not accurate. While they are not commercial locations and have restrictions, residential shipments have a designation of their own. Carriers can have different charges for residential and limited access points in the same zip.
All limited access points require lift gates. This is not accurate. A location can have a commercial loading dock and a forklift but still fall into one of the 4 non-commercial or limited access categories.
Because we are picking up from a business, non-commercial service charges don’t apply. This is not accurate. A business shipping point can require non-commercial service if it exhibits a qualifying restriction.
How much does limited access service cost?
Limited access charges can range from $50.00 to $500.00 depending on the restriction type and specialized nature of the delivery. Most common limited access fees are for space limitations which tend to be between $50.00 and $150.00.

If you have a shipment that exhibits a qualifying restriction you should verify the charge and cost with the carrier you are considering before booking the shipment with them.

foundations-ltl-pricing

Thanks for reading our article on Lift Gate Service. We hope it helps you achieve your goals. We have several other resources you may find useful. Feel free to check them out here.