Surcharges and fuel addenda rise
Logistics posts show recent surcharge moves and accessorial pressure — carriers and platforms are passing fuel and emergency bunker costs through to customers alongside packing updates. (x.com)
Parcel and freight shipping got more expensive in early April as carriers widened fuel pass-throughs and tightened the rules on extra handling. (ups.com) (dhl.com) United Parcel Service raised its United States ground fuel surcharge to 27.0% for the week of April 6, 2026, up from 20.75% on January 12, while its domestic air surcharge rose to 30.75% from 19.75% over the same span. (ups.com) DHL Express said on March 31 that it would start updating fuel surcharges weekly from April 13 because of “continued volatility in the fuel market,” and DHL Freight issued similar notices in Europe in March citing the security situation in the Middle East. (dhl.com 1) (dhl.com 2) Ocean shipping lines are also adding emergency costs tied to marine fuel, known as bunker fuel, which powers container ships. DHL Global Forwarding said bunker fuel prices surged after the Strait of Hormuz closure and carriers began imposing emergency surcharges. (dhl.com) The pressure is not limited to fuel. FedEx changed several accessorial charges for 2026, including applying some home-delivery surcharges per package instead of per shipment starting January 12 and revising how Additional Handling Surcharge and Oversize Charge are assessed. (fedex.com) FedEx also said the weight threshold for Additional Handling Surcharge will drop from 70 pounds to 55 pounds for international package shipments, a change that can pull more parcels into higher-fee categories. (fedex.com) Packing itself has become part of the bill. FedEx says it may assess extra handling charges for packages that need special handling or additional packaging in transit, and its surcharge rules treat packaging shape and sortation risk as billing triggers. (fedex.com) Large platforms are passing those costs through too. Amazon told sellers it will add a 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge to Fulfillment by Amazon fees later in April, averaging about 7 cents per unit in the United States. (usatoday.com) (cnbc.com) The result is a stack of charges rather than one headline rate: base transportation, weekly fuel formulas, emergency bunker add-ons, and package-level handling fees. For shippers moving bulky, irregular, or fuel-sensitive freight, the invoice is rising faster than the published base price. (ups.com) (fedex.com) (dhl.com)
