United Parcel Service and DHL Express plan to raise their rates for air and ground shipments, with the new prices going into effect Dec. 31 this year for UPS and Jan. 6, 2008 for DHL.
Atlanta-based UPS said rates for its UPS Ground, air express, U.S.-origin International shipments, and Ground Hundredweight shipment rates would all increase by a net average of 4.9%. The increase for air express and international shipments is based on a 6.9% increase in the base rate coupled with a 2% reduction in the carrier’s current fuel surcharge.
Plantation, FL-based DHL said its net shipping rates would also increase 4.9%, which applies to its DHL Domestic Air Express and International Express as well as an average DHL Ground and DHL@Home shipments. Like UPS, base rates for air express and international shipments are actually increasing 6.9%, offset by a 2% reduction in its air fuel surcharge index.
DHL said it’s also adding a 10-cent surcharge for residential and commercial deliveries, along with a 50-cent rise in its exception-handling fee. DHL is also boosting its large package fee up to $45.