| Charge | What triggers it | Ask |
|---|---|---|
| Wait time | Courier held at pickup or delivery | How long is included, and what's the rate after? |
| After-hours | Outside standard hours | What hours, and what's the premium? |
| Weekend and holiday | Saturday, Sunday, holidays | Which holidays specifically? |
| Re-delivery | Failed first attempt | Who pays when the failure was an access problem you weren't told about? |
| Fuel surcharge | Fuel index | How is it calculated, and how often does it change? |
| Vehicle upgrade | Item too large for the assigned class | Who decides, and when do we find out? |
| Special handling | Temperature, DG, two-person, inside delivery | Which are included and which are extra? |
| Minimums | Low-volume stops or lanes | Is there a per-stop or monthly minimum? |
| Accessorials | Liftgate, pallet jack, inside placement | Itemized or bundled? |
The One Question That Surfaces All Nine
"Send me a redacted sample invoice from an account like ours." A rate sheet shows what they want you to compare. An invoice shows what you'll actually pay.
Where the Biggest Gap Usually Is
Re-delivery and wait time, because both are triggered by conditions the courier can influence. A carrier that doesn't document your receiving points generates re-delivery charges from its own gap.