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What are Additional Handling / Extra Care surcharges?

Measuring and weighing your package accurately ensures accurate rate quotes. However, Additional Handling or Extra Care fees can be assessed by couriers for a number of reasons.

Any package that is irregular (not a square/rectangle box) or otherwise requires extra care or special handling as determined by the courier can be subject to Additional Handling or Extra Care fees.

If the courier determines that a fee is applicable based on the criteria below, it will appear as a shipping adjustment on your final receipt. If no fees are assessed by the courier, then no additional fees will be applied. 😀

Surcharges can be applied by couriers for any of the following reasons:

If the package is routed through irregular package sortation which can include packages marked “Fragile” or “This Side Up” or are less than 1″ in height.

If the package cannot enter the conveyor system or otherwise requires Extra Care due to size, weight or irregularity.

Packages not fully encased in corrugated cardboard – like tires, canvas, leather, metal, wood, bins made of plastics or styrofoam.

The package is “irregular” like a guitar case or a cylindrical-like shape like a mailing tube, barrel, bucket, can or drum.

The package is soft-sided (like a bubble mailer) and over 18″ in length.

The package is wrapped or covered in stretch or shrink wrap.

The package is bound with metal, plastic or cloth banding.

It has wheels, handles, straps or any other part protruding outside of the container.

It’s overweight: More than 50lbs (Domestic shipment) or more than 70lbs (International)

The Length + Girth exceeds 105″. (Girth is the Height x 2 + Width x 2 🤓)

If the longest side of the package (Length) exceeds 48″ or the second-longest side (Width) exceeds 30″.

Some couriers route packages that are 1″ or less in height through irregular package sortation, which can result in an “Additional Handling” or “Extra Care” fee.

Additional Handling fees are applied per package for both domestic and international shipments.

Examples of “irregular” packages:

Nerd Alert! Measure at the widest points and always round up!

Packages are measured by the couriers using scanners which capture the widest points of each dimension. For example, a bulging or bowed box will measure greater at the bulge than at the fold.