If you are arranging to have a single less-than-truckload (LTL) shipment picked up at one time and place, unaccompanied by any other shipment of any description from the same pickup site, more than likely the carrier making such a pickup will assess an additional charge.

Such additional charges range from a low of just under $10 to more than $20 per shipment. These extra fees vary considerably from motor carrier to motor carrier. You generally can find information about these additional charges in Item 885 of the LTL carriers' rules tariffs. They usually are titled something along the lines of "Single-Shipment Pickup Charge" or "Single- Shipment Payments."

Typically, these single-shipment pickup rules require the drivers to write or stamp such phrases or abbreviations as "Single Shipment," "Single," "One Shipment," "Only Shipment," "SS," or "S/S" on all copies of the bill of lading when such shipments are tendered to the motor carrier.

Some LTL carriers have instituted an additional provision stating that when the freight charges computed at the shipment's actual weight, using the applicable rate or rates plus the single-shipment pickup charge, exceed the freight charges computed at a weight of 500 pounds without the single-shipment pickup charge, the latter rate basis will apply. Such provisions go on to state that in no case will the total freight bill be less than the applicable minimum charge plus the single-shipment pickup charge.

If you want to avoid paying single-shipment pickup charges, there are several ways you could do so. Here are some examples:

• A handful of LTL carriers do not assess a single-shipment pickup charge. One of those is Thomasville, N.C.-based Old Dominion Freight Line. Old Dominion only assesses such a charge when single shipments have been picked up by another carrier, as well as on Florida intrastate shipments.
• A motor carrier may not assess a single-shipment pickup charge when shipments are tendered at the carrier's terminal by the consignor or the consignee's agent.
• Of course, if your shipments are picked up at the same time and place together with any other shipment of any description originating from the same consignor, whether they are moving in interstate, intrastate, intracity, or foreign commerce to any destination within or beyond the territorial scope of the motor carrier's rules tariff, the single- shipment pickup charge would not apply.

And finally, don't overlook the fact that practically everything, including an additional charge like this one, can be negotiated. You might be able to get your LTL carrier to make an exception to its single-shipment rule for your account.

Ray Bohman, a well-known consultant and author, is editor of several highly successful newsletters on transportation and is a consultant to a number of national trade associations. He is president of The Bohman Group, consultants and publishers in the freight-transportation field. His offices are located at 27 Bay Lane, Chatham, MA 02633. Phone: (508) 945-2272.