It’s that time of year again; the holidays are coming, and with them come shipping surprises you probably didn’t plan for. One of the biggest? FedEx Demand Surcharges. If you’ve never heard of them, here’s the deal:
FedEx says:
“During times of elevated volumes, high demand for capacity, and increased operating costs across our network, FedEx will implement demand surcharges.” You can read more directly on their site: FedEx Demand Surcharges. So, what does this mean for your business?
What Are FedEx Demand Surcharges?
Demand surcharges are extra charges FedEx levies during peak shipping seasons, including holidays. Why? Because package volumes explode, expenses increase, and FedEx must ensure its system can maintain the rush. FedEx adjusts these charges based on how busy its network is. They also say they might change or bring back these fees at any time. So don’t be surprised if your shipping costs go up this holiday season; it’s already been announced.
How This Impacts Your Business
If you’re only using FedEx and not watching for these extra fees, you could end up
- Paying more per shipment
- Blowing your holiday budget
- Losing profit margins
- Dealing with shipping delays or backups
These hidden charges can pile up fast, especially when you’re sending hundreds or thousands of packages a week.
Wondering how to manage FedEx demand surcharges during the holiday season?
That’s where ShipConsole comes in.
Consider it your shipping control tower; it links you to various carriers (FedEx, UPS, DHL, etc.) and assists you in selecting the most appropriate one for each shipment. Rather than making a guess, you can:
- Compare real-time shipping rates (with surcharges already included)
- Always choose the most cost-effective carrier
- Automate your bookings and paperwork
- Avoid last-minute surprises
Top Features of ShipConsole That Save You Time & Money
Here’s what makes ShipConsole a must-have, especially during the hectic holiday season:
- Quoting & Rate Shopping
Get real-time prices from multiple parcel and freight carriers, compare them in real-time, and choose the one that saves you the most.
- One Platform for Everything
Domestic shipping? International? Freight? Hazardous materials? It’s all handled in one place.
- Export Filing Made Easy
No more export headaches; file through ACE (Automated Commercial Environment) directly from the platform.
- Track Your Inbound Shipments
Know what’s arriving, when, and where it’s going. Total visibility = fewer surprises.
- Employee Shipping Tools
Enable staff members of various departments with access control to generate, manage, and monitor their shipments—perfect for processing internal logistics, departmental orders, and urgent special deliveries without overloading your shipping team.
- Mobile App for BOLs & Documents
Sign Bills of Lading (BOLs), store documents, and capture photographs right from your phone.
- Reports & Dashboards That Matter
See exactly how much you’re spending, how carriers are performing, and find cost-saving opportunities.
Why Automation Is a Game-Changer During the Holidays
When shipping goes crazy, automation keeps you in charge. ShipConsole provides:
- Out-of-the-box integration with Oracle ERPs (Oracle Cloud ERP, Oracle EBS, JD Edwards, and NetSuite)
- Rate comparisons
- Booking shipments
- Shipping labels and documents
- Tracking
- Freight auditing
This means fewer mistakes, faster fulfillment, and way less stress for your team.
Use Data to Get Ahead
ShipConsole doesn’t just help you ship—it helps you plan smarter. You’ll see:
- Which carriers charge the most surcharges?
- Who delivers on time?
- Where are your costs going?
All that adds up to better decision-making and fewer holiday headaches.
Conclusion
FedEx isn’t getting rid of demand surcharges any time soon; in fact, they’re here for the 2025 holiday season. But you don’t have to get stuck with high costs.
Using a smart shipping platform like ShipConsole helps you
- Dodge surprise fees
- Compare and choose the cheapest, fastest options
- Automate and speed up your shipping
- Save money and keep customers happy
Want to crush the holiday shipping season without breaking the bank? Give ShipConsole a try. You won’t look back.
Pavan Telluru works as a Product Manager at ShipConsole. He brings over a decade of experience to his current role where he’s dedicated to conducting product demos to prospects and partners about how to organizations can efficiently manage their shipping execution process. He also leads marketing efforts at ShipConsole.
