Postage Adjustments
Our shipping carriers reweigh and remeasure all shipments that arrive at their facility before delivery to the recipient using an automated system. Any discrepancy between our shipping carrier's assessment and the declared weight, dimensions, and packaging will be billed to your account.
Which carriers charge postage adjustment?
All shipping carriers bill us with postage adjustments. The fees will be billed to your account upon receipt of the invoice from the carrier.
UPS Delivery Surcharges
In the context of delivery, surcharges are extra costs that can accrue because of a number of reasons. While some of them can be avoided, some cannot because of the nature of the shipment, the destination, or the handling required. In either case, it helps to be aware of these so you’re not surprised by the additional fees.
What are the common UPS Postage Adjustments?
Weight:
- Any package with an actual weight of more than 70 pounds/32 kilograms.
- Each package in a shipment where the average weight per package is greater than 70 pounds /32 kilograms and the weight for each package is not specified on the source document or the UPS automated shipping system used.
Length: Any package with the longest side exceeding 48 inches/122 centimeters.
Width: Any package with its second-longest side exceeding 30 inches/76 centimeters.
Freight Charge - If the parcel has a discrepancy in the dimensions. They will recalculate the dimensional weight which is L x W x H / 139. If the dim weight is higher than the physical weight, the dim weight will apply and it will show as a Freight Charge.
Shipping Charge Correction - If the declared physical weight is higher than the dimensional weight. They reassess the actual weight and declared dimensions. If there are discrepancies, shipping charge correction will apply.
Fuel Surcharge - This accounts for the fluctuating oil price depending on the day it got shipped.
Address Change Correction - If a client requested a change of address of the recipient, an additional fee will apply.
Additional Handling Fee - Special handling applies to any of the following:
- Any package with the longest side exceeding 48 inches or its second-longest side exceeding 30 inches.
- Any package with an actual weight of more than 70 pounds
- Any article that is encased in an outside shipping container made of metal or wood.
- Any cylindrical-like item, such as a barrel, drum, pail or tire, that is not fully encased in a corrugated cardboard shipping container.
FedEx Additional Handling Surcharges
A surcharge applies to any package that:
(Dimension)
- measures greater than 48 inches along its longest side;
- measures greater than 30 inches along its second-longest side;
- measures greater than 105 inches in length and girth — the length and girth is length plus (two times the height) plus (two times the width);
(Weight)
- has an actual weight greater than 50 lbs. (U.S. Package Services)
- has an actual weight greater than 70 lbs. (International Package Services)
(Packaging) Is in non-standard packaging, including any package that:
- is not fully encased in an outer shipping container;
- is encased in an outer shipping container not made of corrugated fiberboard (cardboard) materials, including but not limited to metal, wood, canvas, leather, hard plastic, soft plastic (e.g., plastic bags), or expanded polystyrene foam (e.g., Styrofoam);
- is encased in an outer shipping container covered in shrink wrap or stretch wrap;
- is encased in a soft-sided pack (e.g., courier packs, poly bags, and bubble mailers) that exceeds 18 inches along its longest side or 13 inches along its second-longest side or 5 inches in height;
- is round or cylindrical, including (without limitation) mailing tubes, cans, buckets, barrels, tires, drums, or pails;
- is bound with metal, plastic, or cloth banding, or has wheels, casters, handles, or straps (e.g., a bicycle) (including packages where the outer surface area is loosely wrapped, or where the contents protrude outside the surface area)
- could become entangled in or cause damage to other packages or the FedEx sortation system.
I shipped this package a long time ago, why am I getting charged now?
Carriers reassess the declared shipment weight, dimension, and packaging upon receipt. After reassessment, reports or invoices are processed—turnaround time varies per carrier (sometimes delays happen). Upon receiving the reports, we forward the charges to our respective clients promptly.
How can I avoid this in the future?
Ensure you account for dimensional weight and not just the actual weight of the items. Dimensional weight reflects package density, which is the amount of space a package occupies in relation to its actual weight.
Here are the formulas to help calculate dimensional weight:
USPS - Length x Width x Height ÷ 166
Canada Post - L*W*H / 166
UPS - L*W*H / 139
- To calculate dimensional weight, multiply the package length (the longest side of the package) by the width and by the height. Divide the result in inches by the appropriate rate type divisor – 139 – to arrive at the dimensional weight in pounds. Increase any fraction to the next whole pound. The billable weight will be larger than the actual or dimensional weight.
- Other Delivery Surcharges from UPS are non-controllable due to the nature of the shipment, the destination, or the handling required.
FedEx - L*W*H / 139
Can I dispute the charges?
Please bear in mind that these calculations are from a specific format or done by automated machines that are regularly calibrated so there is less room for error. We cannot guarantee, but we can try our best to investigate the charges and request a possible appeal.
You also have the option to clarify these charges directly through our partner carriers.
Can I get the invoice?
You can get a report of the postage adjustments (along with other fees from your account) through our Monthly Invoice feature.