Driver assist is charged when a driver is required to physically help load or unload freight. Most carrier tariffs specify that drivers operate the vehicle — not handle freight. When a facility's staffing or equipment requires the driver to step in, carriers charge for the extra labor.
Common triggers: residential deliveries where the driver must carry freight inside; facilities without forklifts or pallet jacks where the driver must hand-stack cargo; consignees who require the driver to count product against a packing list item by item.
Driver assist creates liability ambiguity. If a driver is injured while handling freight, workers' compensation coverage may not extend the same way it does for vehicle operation. If freight is damaged during driver-assisted loading, the cargo claim chain is less clear. Carriers typically require pre-authorization before drivers are permitted to assist.
A consistent driver assist charge from the same facility is an operational signal: that facility lacks sufficient dock equipment or staffing. A forklift or pallet jack eliminates the charge and typically reduces truck turn time — reducing detention exposure simultaneously.
For the full breakdown of when driver assist applies and how to prevent it, see the driver assist guide.