Common Surcharges on Small Parcel Shipments

Shipping small parcels is a common practice for individuals and businesses alike. However, it's essential to be aware of potential surcharges that may apply to these shipments. Surcharges are additional fees levied by carriers for various reasons, ranging from special handling to delivery area characteristics. Understanding these surcharges can help you better anticipate and manage your shipping costs. Below are some common surcharges encountered on small parcel shipments:

•  Delivery Area Surcharge (DAS) - DAS is a surcharge for each package delivered to specific ZIP Codes within the 48 contiguous states.

• Extended Delivery Area Surcharge (EDAS) - UPS will apply an additional charge for each shipment picked up or delivered in an extended area.

• Remote Area Surcharge - A Remote Area Surcharge applies to deliveries to specific ZIP Codes within Alaska and Hawaii.

• Oversize/Overweight Surcharge - Applied to parcels exceeding certain weight or dimension thresholds, reflecting the additional handling or space requirements.

• Additional Handling Surcharge - Imposed for packages that require special handling due to irregular shape, fragility, or other factors necessitating extra care

• Address Correction Surcharge - Incurred when a shipment's delivery address requires correction or adjustment after the parcel has been dispatched, reflecting additional administrative efforts. 

To minimize the impact of these surcharges on your shipping costs, consider optimizing your packaging to avoid oversize or additional handling charges, verifying addresses to prevent address correction fees, and planning shipments to avoid peak periods if possible. Understanding these common surcharges empowers you to make informed decisions when shipping small parcels. If you believe your items are a good candidate for packaging adjustments, reach out to your warehouse lead for assistance.