D&D
THC: what it covers and when it gets billed twice
Published: 2026-09-24
Terminal handling charge looks like a single line on the invoice. In reality it is a bundle, and one part of it is the one that raises questions.
What it covers
Handling — the lift from the vessel to the yard or onto a vehicle. Documentation. And temporary storage of the container at the terminal after a free period.
That last part is the one that raises questions. If storage is already inside THC and the terminal also bills storage as a separate line, the same period can be paid for twice.
Why it goes unnoticed
THC and storage invoices often arrive at different times, from different sources, and enter different stages of accounting. One is approved by the forwarder, the other by finance. Nobody puts them side by side, because separately each one looks correct.
Transhipment — where THC multiplies legitimately
On a transhipment voyage THC is paid several times: at the port of departure, at the port of transhipment and at the port of destination. That is correct and intended.
So the number of lines tells you nothing. Three THC lines for one shipment can be entirely normal, while two can be a problem if both are for the same port.
What to actually check
Whether THC for the same container in the same port has been billed by two different parties — for example in the carrier's freight and in the terminal's invoice.
Whether the storage period overlaps with the free storage already included in THC.
Whether the number of THC lines matches the real number of transhipments, rather than being one more.
What not to do
Do not treat several THC lines as a duplicate automatically. This is the most common mistake when checking, and it damages the relationship with the carrier quickly, because the claim turns out to be unfounded.
The check is based on the port and the issuing party, not on the number of lines. Two lines from the same party in one port may be partial billing; two different parties is a question.