Contact us to learn how Freight Assist can be part of your LTL strategy today.
In LTL (Less-than-Truckload) shipping, even the most efficient operations can be caught off guard by hidden costs. Accessorial charges—like liftgate fees, limited access deliveries, or cubic-capacity adjustments—often appear after a shipment is booked, creating surprises for shippers and added friction with carriers.
These charges aren’t arbitrary; they’re the result of complex rules, location nuances, and shipment details that can be easy to miss at the quoting stage. But that’s where artificial intelligence (AI) is beginning to change the game.
Traditionally, shippers have had to rely on experience, carrier guidelines, and manual checks to anticipate extra charges. Yet as networks expand and delivery destinations diversify, it becomes harder to catch every potential issue.
AI, combined with location intelligence, can analyze shipment data in real time—flagging patterns that may trigger additional fees before the shipment is ever booked. For example, AI can now predict:
If a commodity might fall under restricted or prohibited categories.
Whether density or cubic capacity could incur extra charges.
If a destination is likely to be remote or limited access.
These insights allow shippers to quote with confidence, knowing potential cost factors have already been surfaced and considered.
At MyCarrier, we’ve been exploring how AI can bring this level of foresight directly into the LTL quoting experience. That’s why we’re introducing Freight Assist—a new capability designed to help shippers identify potential cost risks before they become invoice surprises.
Freight Assist uses AI to identify location types and limited access requirements before you book — with rules tariff checks arriving in early 2026 and commodity/class validation soon after.
In early 2026, Freight Assist will include early detection of:
Possible fees, based on general rules tariffs.
Prohibited or restricted items, based on commodity descriptions.
Density or cubic-capacity–related charges, which often vary by carrier.
Potential charges, based on commodity and freight class.
By surfacing these insights ahead of time, Freight Assist helps users improve quoting accuracy, reduce disputes, and build stronger trust with carriers.
When shipment information is more accurate upfront, both sides of the transaction benefit.
Shippers avoid unexpected post-booking charges—saving time, money, and frustration.
Carriers receive more complete data, allowing them to plan routes more efficiently and execute pickups with fewer constraints.
The result is a more transparent and collaborative shipping experience—something AI is uniquely equipped to deliver at scale.
Over 70% of LTL shippers still rely on manual processes to verify freight data. That’s not a flaw—it’s an opportunity. As AI becomes more integrated into shipping workflows, tools like Freight Assist show how automation can enhance—not replace—human decision-making.
The future of freight visibility isn’t just about automation; it’s about intelligent guidance. When technology helps identify potential cost drivers before a shipment moves, the entire network becomes more efficient, transparent, and resilient.
Freight Assist is just the beginning of this shift—an example of how AI can help shippers operate smarter, carriers plan better, and everyone avoid unnecessary surprises.
Contact us to learn how Freight Assist can be part of your LTL strategy today.