Inside delivery exists to bridge that gap. But it's also one of the most misunderstood accessorial services in LTL. Shippers assume it's included in the base rate. Others expect it to cover unpacking or room-of-choice placement. Neither is true, and those misunderstandings show up on invoices as surprise charges, redelivery fees, or freight stuck at a front door.
This guide cuts through the confusion — what inside delivery actually covers, what it doesn't, how it differs for residential vs. commercial stops, and how to book it correctly the first time.
Key Takeaways
- Inside delivery is a paid LTL accessorial — it is never included in the base rate
- It covers placement in a specific interior location, not unpacking, assembly, or installation
- For residential stops, most carriers limit delivery to the porch, driveway, or garage — not inside the home
- Inside delivery sits between threshold delivery and white glove on the delivery service spectrum
- Book it at quoting; adding it after dispatch can trigger authorization delays or change fees
What Is Inside Delivery in LTL Freight?
Inside delivery is a freight accessorial service where the carrier's driver moves the shipment past the building's threshold — beyond the loading dock, curb, or front door — and places it at a designated interior location.
Old Dominion Freight Line defines it as service used "when freight must be brought beyond the dock or threshold." XPO's tariff describes it similarly: movement of a shipment beyond the "immediately adjacent loading or unloading positions" when requested and when operating conditions permit.
Why It Exists as a Separate Service
Standard LTL delivery is priced on a core assumption: the consignee has a loading dock or the physical capacity to receive freight at the truck's drop point. Once a driver lowers freight off the truck, their obligation ends. They're not responsible for moving it further.
Inside delivery extends that obligation. The additional labor, time, and liability involved in navigating a building — through a front entrance, down a hallway, to a specific room — is what the accessorial fee covers.
Where It's Available
Inside delivery is available across most major LTL carriers. ODFL, Estes, XPO, Saia, R+L Carriers, Southeastern Freight Lines, ArcBest, and AAA Cooper all publish it under Item 566 (or equivalent) in their tariffs. Carrier policies vary on:
- How far into a facility a driver will go
- Whether elevator access to upper floors is supported
- Whether they offer any version of it to residential addresses
No two carriers define inside delivery the same way — confirm the specific terms before booking to avoid surprises at delivery.
What Inside Delivery Does and Does NOT Include
The most common shipper mistake: assuming inside delivery covers more than it does. Here's a plain breakdown.
What Inside Delivery IS
- Moves freight through the entrance and to a specific interior location noted at booking — a lobby, stockroom, office floor, or designated room
- Navigates standard hallways as part of the service
- Includes freight elevator access on some carriers, where the elevator is available and operating labor is provided at no cost to the carrier (R+L Carriers and Southeastern Freight Lines both specify this condition)
- Places the shipment at the delivery point — AAA Cooper's tariff specifies placement "far enough inside for the entire shipment to be out of the weather"
Estes separately rates first-floor street-level service and charges additionally for each floor above or below street level — confirm this before booking any multi-floor delivery.
What Inside Delivery Is NOT
This is where shippers consistently get caught off guard:
- No unpacking, assembly, or sorting — XPO's tariff explicitly excludes "assembling, packing, unpacking, dismantling, inspecting, palletizing, sorting, or segregating freight" from inside delivery
- No installation — that falls under white glove service, a separate and higher-cost accessorial tier
- No breaking freight down to fit through doorways — if the freight won't fit through the entry point, the driver isn't obligated to find a workaround
- No delivery to inaccessible areas — steep stairs, narrow passages, or unsafe conditions are grounds for the driver to stop short
Residential stops follow even stricter limits. Most LTL carriers cap inside delivery at the porch, driveway, or garage — not inside the home.
- ArcBest routes customers who need in-home placement or setup to its extra-charge Final Mile service
- Saia defaults to curbside only under Item 753; room-of-choice placement is a separately priced Premium Final Mile service
Inside Delivery Service Tiers: Where It Fits
LTL delivery services sit on a spectrum. Understanding where inside delivery lands helps shippers choose the right level — and avoid overpaying or underordering.
| Service Tier | What It Covers | Saia Published Rate (Item) |
|---|---|---|
| Curbside (Standard) | Freight lowered to curb or driveway; driver's obligation ends there | $12.12/cwt; $174.50 min (Item 753) |
| Threshold | First dry interior space — just past the front door, into a garage or lobby | $63.99/cwt; $322 min (Item 755) |
| Inside Delivery | Specific named interior location — stockroom, office, designated room | $15.70/cwt; $153 min (Item 566) |
| White Glove | Room of choice, site protection, unpacking, debris removal | $78.87/cwt; $396 min (Item 755) |
Source: Saia tariff 170-D, effective July 6, 2026
Inside Delivery Fee Ranges Across Carriers
Saia's published rates are one data point. Actual inside delivery fees vary considerably by carrier:
- ODFL: $7.70/cwt; $115 minimum; $605 maximum
- Estes: $10.25/cwt; $100 minimum (first-floor service)
- XPO: $17.45/cwt; $179 minimum; $1,504 maximum
- R+L Carriers: $24/cwt; $225 minimum; $2,250 maximum
- Southeastern: $8.25/cwt; $100 minimum; $550 maximum
- AAA Cooper: $8/cwt; $110 minimum; $825 maximum
These are published tariff rates — contract pricing will differ. The rate spread is wide enough that choosing on price alone — without checking whether a carrier will actually carry freight to the designated room — risks redelivery charges or a delivery refusal at the door.
How Inside Delivery Works in Practice
How inside delivery gets executed depends heavily on whether the stop is residential or commercial. The rules aren't the same.
Residential Deliveries
Residential inside delivery is the more restricted tier. For most LTL carriers, "inside delivery" to a home means the driveway, porch, or garage — not the living space.
This isn't always a written prohibition, but ArcBest explicitly directs customers needing freight placed inside the home to its Final Mile service. Saia separates residential curbside from any room-of-choice option entirely. If the consignee expects freight delivered into a specific room, inside delivery won't get them there — that requires white glove or Final Mile service.
Business Deliveries
For commercial stops, inside delivery typically means the driver brings freight through the main entrance and places it at an interior location agreed upon at booking. Carriers differ on how deep they'll go:
- Some carriers place freight just inside the front door (enough to be out of the weather)
- Others will navigate to a specific room, floor, or stockroom — if confirmed in advance
- Multi-floor deliveries require elevator access, and the carrier must be able to use it without additional operating labor costs
One consistent rule across all carriers: drivers won't unpack freight, break it down to navigate tight spaces, or carry it up stairs that aren't safely accessible. If those conditions exist, the delivery stops at the last practical point — and the shipper is responsible for bridging that distance.
When to Request Inside Delivery — and How to Book It Correctly
Three Signals You Need Inside Delivery
- The delivery location has no loading dock
- The consignee can't move freight from a curbside or dock drop on their own
- Freight needs to reach a specific interior location: retail stockroom, server room, office supply room, medical supply area
Retail, healthcare, hospitality, and commercial office environments hit this scenario regularly.
How to Book It Without Surprises
Book inside delivery at the quoting stage — not after pickup, and definitely not when the truck arrives. Most carriers allow accessorials to be added later, but some — like AAA Cooper — require written authorization for services not requested at pickup. Late additions create friction, delays, and charges you didn't plan for.
The right steps:
- Select inside delivery as an accessorial when generating the rate quote
- Document the placement location on the BOL — be specific: "reception area," "stockroom, second door on the left," or wherever the freight needs to land
- Confirm liftgate separately — no major carrier bundles liftgate and inside delivery into a single item; they're priced and booked independently
- Check for stacking accessorials — long carry, stair carry, or two-person delivery fees can add to the inside delivery base cost if the placement location is particularly demanding
- Ask about appointment requirements — some carriers charge separately for scheduled delivery windows; ODFL and Estes each list appointment/notification as a $30/shipment add-on
Getting all of this right at booking is where most shippers slip up. Sims Global Solutions' direct API integrations with 70+ LTL carriers pull accessorial-inclusive rates at the quoting stage, so the price you see — inside delivery, liftgate, stacking surcharges and all — is what you actually pay at invoice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does inside delivery mean for LTL?
Inside delivery in LTL is an accessorial service where the carrier brings freight past the loading dock or curbside and places it at a specific interior location within the consignee's facility. It is not part of the standard LTL rate and must be requested at booking.
What is the difference between inside delivery and threshold delivery?
Threshold delivery places freight just inside the first dry interior space — a garage, lobby, or just past the front door. Inside delivery goes further, placing freight at a specific named interior location like a stockroom or office floor. Most carriers price these as separate tiers.
Does inside delivery include unpacking, assembly, or installation?
No. Inside delivery covers placement only. Unpacking, assembly, and installation fall under white glove service, which is a higher service tier with its own pricing. If those services are needed, white glove — not inside delivery — is the right accessorial to request.
Is a liftgate required with inside delivery?
In most cases, yes — if the location has no dock, freight needs to come off the truck via liftgate. No major carrier bundles liftgate into the inside delivery item; they're separate line items. Confirm both at booking to avoid surprise charges on delivery.
How much does inside delivery cost as an LTL accessorial?
Published rates range from roughly $7.70/cwt (ODFL) to $24/cwt (R+L Carriers), with minimums spanning $100–$225 depending on the carrier. Stair carry, long carry, and two-person delivery fees can stack on top and push total accessorial costs much higher on complex deliveries.
What is the difference between inbound and outbound LTL?
Inbound LTL is freight shipped to a business — typically from suppliers or vendors. Outbound LTL is freight a business ships to customers or other locations. Inside delivery applies to the inbound leg, when a consignee needs freight carried into their facility rather than left at the dock or curb.
