Redelivery Fee

A redelivery fee is charged when a carrier's driver arrives at the delivery location and cannot complete the delivery, requiring the shipment to return to the carrier's terminal for a second attempt. Common causes include the receiver being closed or unstaffed, the consignee refusing the freight, a missing or incorrect appointment, the dock being full, or the shipment requiring services – like liftgate or inside delivery – that weren't arranged. The carrier charges for the wasted trip and the cost of rehandling and redelivering the freight, typically $150 to $400 or more.

Redelivery fees are particularly damaging because they compound. The direct charge is just the beginning – the shipment also incurs additional transit time, potential storage-in-transit fees at the carrier terminal, and the risk of product spoilage for temperature-sensitive goods. For cold chain shippers, a failed delivery attempt on a reefer load can mean product loss, a customer complaint, and a redelivery charge stacked on top of each other.

Most redelivery situations are preventable with better coordination. Confirming receiver hours, ensuring appointments are booked and communicated, verifying delivery requirements (liftgate, inside delivery, limited access), and providing accurate contact information for the consignee all reduce the likelihood of a failed first attempt. Proactive shipment tracking with delivery-day alerts gives logistics teams a window to intervene if something looks off – a late-running truck heading for a facility that closes at 3 PM, for example.

Shippers who track redelivery frequency by destination can identify problem locations and work with receivers to fix recurring issues – whether that means adjusting delivery windows, pre-staging dock space, or simply ensuring someone is available to accept freight.