Parcel Rate Increases for 2013 That Retailers Need to Know

UPS announced 6.5 percent air increases partially offset by a 2 percent fuel surcharge reduction, and 5.9 percent average ground increase offset by a 1 percent fuel surcharge reduction. Rate increases will take effect Dec. 31, 2012.

Similarly, FedEx announced average rate increases of 5.9 percent for express and international services, offset by a 2 percent reduction in fuel surcharges. FedEx hasn't yet announced 2013 increases for FedEx Ground, FedEx Home Delivery or FedEx SmartPost, although it's expected to match the UPS ground increases highlighted above. FedEx's rate increases take effect Jan. 6, 2013.

For most shippers the impact is much higher than the "average" increases announced by the carriers, however, especially for shipments weighing up to 30 pounds. For this key weight bracket, UPS customers on "Daily Rates" will realize the following average increases (not adjusted for fuel surcharge differential):

• Next Day Air = 7.06 percent
• Next Day Air Saver = 7.73 percent
• 2-Day Air AM = 8.23 percent
• 2-Day Air = 8.15 percent
• 3-Day Air = 8.80 percent
• Ground = 6.97 percent.

Here are FedEx's average increases in the same weight bracket (up to 30 pounds) for next year:

• Priority Overnight = 5.82 percent
• Standard Overnight = 6.63 percent
• 2-Day AM = 7.13 percent
• 2-Day = 7.13 percent
• Express Saver (3-Day) = 7.88 percent.

Shippers should take note that the ground minimum shipment charge will increase from $5.49 to $5.84, a 6.4 percent increase. Many accessorial charges are as much as 10 percent higher in 2013. Address correction fees, delivery area surcharges, residential surcharges, on-call pickup fees, delivery intercept, declared value and many other fees are well above the "average" increases announced.

In addition, many shippers will begin to feel the effects of 2011's dimensional rule changes as two-year extensions of the old 194 dim divisor are retracted in 2013.