In addition to the variable shipment charge applied on either a per hundredweight or per mile basis, two additional charges are common for transportation: minimum charges and surcharges. The minimum charge represents the amount a shipper must pay to make a shipment, regardless of weight. A surcharge represents an additional charge designed to cover specific carrier costs.
Class rates, minimum charges, and surcharges form a pricing structure that, in various combinations, is applicable within the continental United States. The tariff indicates the class rate for any rating group between specified origins and destinations. In combination, the classification framework and class rate structure form a generalized pricing mechanism.