An Early Holiday Present from UPS? Yes and No!

Hot off the press, UPS announced today that they will NOT apply any additional surcharges for US Residential deliveries during the upcoming 2019 peak holiday shipping season.  The only exceptions would be where surcharges are covered by specific contract provisions or for deliveries requiring special handling.  As usual, UPS is expected to handle a record number of peak holiday season packages.

David Abney, UPS’ Chairman and CEO stated “we are continuing to build momentum as our transformation matures and we enhance the company’s operating efficiency. This announcement enables UPS customers to plan now for a great holiday shopping season and to satisfy their customers by utilizing UPS’ industry leading on-time delivery service, once again this year.”

Over the past two years, UPS has added several additional 747 and 767 aircraft to their fleet, along with more than 700,000 additional packages per hour of automated sortation capacity in new Super Hubs, as well as updated processing and delivery facilities.

Not to be missed in today’s announcement is the fact that UPS WILL apply additional Peak Season Surcharges to what it refers to as “modifications” to several Peak Surcharges for Over Maximum, Large Package or Additional Special Handling items requiring manual processes or off-line handling.  

Starting on November 24, 2019 and continuing until January 4, 2020, packages with “unusual dimensions” requiring special handling will receive an Additional Handling Surcharge.  

Starting October 1, 2019 and continuing until January 4, 2020, packages designated as “Large” under UPS’ Tariff or packages above UPS’ small package network size and weight limits will receive an additional surcharge.  

Here are the additional Peak Season Surcharges shippers may be subject to:

Additional Handling Surcharge – $3.60 per Package

Large Package Surcharge – $31.45 per Package 

Over Maximum Limits Surcharge – $250.00 per package

All UPS parcel shippers should make sure they properly budget for these additional Peak Season Surcharges as well as make sure they are completely familiar with all of the Terms and Conditions of all UPS Service Guides and/or Tariffs.  It’s the best way to avoid costly and unexpected surprises.