Redelivery is the consequence of a failed first delivery attempt. It is one of the more avoidable accessorial charges, because the causes are almost always within the shipper's or consignee's control.
The most common causes of failed first delivery and resulting redelivery charges: consignee facilities that list incorrect receiving hours, dock employees who leave for breaks without coverage, businesses that close unexpectedly, consignees who refuse freight without pre-authorization, and address errors in the original booking that send the driver to the wrong location.
In LTL shipping, redelivery creates particular difficulty because the carrier cannot simply redeliver the next day without re-routing the freight through their terminal network. Depending on the terminal's position in the network, this may add multiple days of transit. The freight must be held at the nearest terminal, re-manifested, and rescheduled for delivery — consuming carrier capacity and adding to the shipper's transit time.
For truckload shipments, failed delivery is logistically simpler but still costly. A driver who arrives at a destination that can't receive the freight must either wait (generating detention), find a truck stop or safe parking nearby, or return the freight — each option adding cost.
Reducing redelivery exposure requires accurate consignee information at booking: correct address, correct receiving hours, correct dock contacts, and documentation of any appointment or call-ahead requirements. For time-sensitive shipments, proactive communication with the consignee before the delivery window prevents most failures.