2025-2026 FedEx Peak Surcharge Schedule: How to Stay Ahead
Quietly Announced by FedEx: July 8, 2025
As peak season approaches, FedEx has announced its 2025–2026 Demand Surcharge structure, and it could have a significant impact on your shipping costs if you're not prepared.
With elevated parcel volumes, tight capacity, and rising operating expenses, FedEx will once again implement a series of Demand Surcharges starting this fall. These charges are dynamic and can fluctuate weekly based on your shipping behavior.
Here’s what you need to know and how to stay ahead of the charges.
What Is the FedEx Demand Surcharge?
Demand Surcharges are temporary fees that FedEx applies during periods of high volume to help offset increased operational costs. They apply to both residential and commercial deliveries and can significantly increase per-package rates if not properly monitored.
Key Surcharges to Watch:
1. Demand Residential Delivery Charge
Applies to customers shipping 20,000+ residential and FedEx Ground Economy packages in a given calculation week.
Calculated weekly using a “peaking factor:” your shipping volume during the calculation week divided by your June 2025 baseline.
Assessed in addition to your regular Residential Delivery Charge, discounts and caps do not apply.
Peak Rates Based on Volume Increase (Peaking Factor):
Application Weeks run October 27, 2025, through January 18, 2026, based on the volume shipped two weeks prior.
2. Demand Additional Surcharges
These surcharges apply across U.S. Package Services, FedEx Ground, FedEx Home Delivery, Ground Economy, and International Ground services, depending on shipment characteristics.
2025–2026 FedEx Peak Surcharge Schedule
FedEx applies a two-week lag between calculation and surcharge application.
Here's how the Demand Residential Delivery Charge will be triggered based on your shipping volume:
* Reminder: Surcharges apply based on the volume shipped during the Calculation Week, not the week you’re invoiced.
FedEx’s dynamic surcharge structure is designed to shift risk and cost to shippers. The more you ship, the more you pay unless you're actively managing and forecasting those fees.
For high-volume shippers, these seasonal surcharges can quickly compound and erode margins. Unfortunately, they are also easy to miss until they show up on your invoice.
How ICC is Helping Shippers Stay Ahead
Invoice Monitoring: We identify and flag unexpected surcharge activity weekly.
Peaking Factor Forecasting: We help you anticipate which tiers you’ll fall into, before the charges hit.
Rate Compliance Audits: Ensure that surcharges align with your negotiated agreements.
Refund & Dispute Support: Catch misapplied fees and secure credits.
For example, a recent client with $4.5M in annual shipping spend uncovered $1.5 million in overcharges after a free parcel audit with ICC. From billing errors to missed discounts, we uncovered everything quickly.
Are you ready to discover your hidden savings before peak season arrives?