UPS announced it’s 2020 rate increase last month that will take effect right before the new year on December 29, 2019. This change includes an average increase for UPS Ground, UPS Air and International services of 4.9 percent. The same as their competitor FedEx, announcing rate changes two months previously, that will go into effect January 6, 2020.
According to UPS, the rate increase is to fund their expansion and service enhancements, “this [rate change] supports ongoing expansion and capability enhancements as we strive to maintain the high service levels you expect from UPS.” Although the average increase is 4.9% the changes vary based on services, with Air Services seeing sharper increases as your packages travel further than Ground Services. You can find the full rate listing on the UPS website.
In addition to the general rate increase, there are new surcharges that are as important as the rates themselves, including a new rebill fee, prohibited item fee, and changes to the additional handling fee. We’ve outlined the main takeaways below:
If you are sending heavy packages or have any concerns about the rates or surcharges reach out to your UPS representative. By reaching out to your representative you can possibly negotiate a deal for your business. Be sure to review the rates which can be found on the UPS website or talk to a Quadient shipping specialist who can answer questions and provide guidance on the questions to ask and what software can optimize your shipping workflow.