FedEx announces price hikes, adding holiday season surcharges

FedEx has announced its general rate increases for 2019, bumping up its ground, express and home delivery services by an average of 4.9% as of Jan. 7, while also adding some holiday season surcharges and increasing others next year. Rival UPS has yet to announce its 2019 rates.

Between Nov. 19 and Dec. 24, FedEx is adding a $3.20 additional handling surcharge on U.S. express and ground services and international ground services. It is also adding a $150 unauthorized package charge during the same period for US and international ground, and a $27.50 oversized charge on US and international ground and US express services.

FedEx Freight, the company’s less-than-truckload (LTL) division, is increasing its rates an average of 5.9% as of Jan. 7. UPS has advised customers to make other plans for LTL shipments as of last week in the event of a potential Teamsters strike.

The company said FedEx SmartPost, its last-mile service handled by the US Postal Service, will be increasing in 2019 as well, although a figure was not given.

These increases are in addition to an increase in FedEx’s additional handling surcharge on packages weighing more than 70 lbs. from $12 to $20 as of Sept. 3, for US and international ground and express services, and increases in its fuel surcharges as of Sept. 10. More FedEx surcharge increases as of Jan. 7, including for same-day service, are detailed here.