UPS hikes surcharges as carriers of all types eye fees

The battle over freight surcharges isn’t just raging on the seas. On land and in the air, shippers face higher surcharges from carriers of all types trying to recoup rising operating costs. Existing surcharges are being raised and new fees introduced as freight demand and transportation costs climb, putting additional pressure on freight shippers, including importers and exporters. On Monday, UPS imposed higher surcharges on oversized packages and palletized freight and introduced a shipping charge correction audit fee. On June 11, UPS will increase its ground fuel surcharge 0.5 percent for all thresholds. The ground fuel surcharge for the week ending June 4 was 7 percent. These surcharges will hit air and ground package and freight shipments. The surcharges affect goods moving through UPS's small package and worldwide express air freight networks. UPS Freight, UPS's less-than-truckload (LTL) trucking company, has its own accessorials included in its rules tariff.