U.S. shippers are feeling the squeeze. According to the latest TD Cowen/AFS Freight Index, Q2 2026 brought record-high ground parcel rates driven by hefty fuel surcharges from FedEx and UPS, reduced discounts, and broader market pressures. For many businesses, delivery costs are climbing faster than expected — and the pain may not ease quickly. Record-High Parcel Costs in Q2 The ground parcel rate per package hit 42.4% above its January 2018 baseline in Q2 — a 6.9% increase y

Amazon has officially announced its 2026 holiday fulfillment fees and is urging sellers to ship early to avoid capacity constraints and higher costs during the peak season. The peak season fee period will start on October 15, 2026, and will include the company’s ongoing 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge applied on top of the seasonal rates. What Sellers Need to Know Holiday fulfillment fees are a standard part of Amazon’s strategy to manage the massive surge in volume during

Amazon is intensifying its competition in the U.S. parcel delivery market, leveraging aggressive pricing and simplified fee structures to attract customers from FedEx, UPS, and even the U.S. Postal Service. Since opening Amazon Shipping to all businesses earlier this year, the company has been winning market share through competitive rates and reduced surcharges, according to parcel pricing experts. Competitive Pricing Driving Market Shift Amazon Shipping is actively courting

U.S. shippers are facing another sharp increase in operating costs as diesel prices surged in April, according to new data released today by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). April 2026 Motor Fuel Prices Regular Motor Gasoline: National average $4.10 per gallon → +12.8% from March 2026 → +29.4% from April 2025 Diesel No. 2: National average $5.50 per gallon → +11.8% from March 2026 → +54.2% from April 2025 Regional Regular Gasoline Prices (April 2026): West Coast

Amazon has announced it will apply a 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge to its Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) services in the U.S., effective in the coming weeks. The surcharge averages approximately $0.17 per unit , according to the company. This move comes as supply chains continue to face upward pressure on transportation costs, largely driven by the ongoing military conflict in the Middle East and the resulting spike in fuel prices. Why This Matters for Sellers and Shippers

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is seeking approval to implement an 8% fuel surcharge on its parcel products — a move that would mark the first time the agency has ever applied a fuel surcharge to domestic parcel shipping. According to a report by FreightWaves on March 25, 2026, the surcharge is a direct response to a sharp rise in gasoline and diesel prices following the escalation of military conflict in the Middle East nearly a month ago. Fuel costs have surged more than 3

FedEx is making a significant move to strengthen its same-day delivery capabilities. On March 24, 2026, the company announced the launch of FedEx SameDay Local , a new service developed in partnership with last-mile orchestration platform OneRail . This service allows customers to offer two-hour or end-of-day delivery at checkout, expanding FedEx’s ability to handle time-sensitive, large, oversized, or specialized shipments that traditionally fall outside standard next-day o

In a pivotal development for the U.S. parcel delivery industry, Amazon overtook the U.S. Postal Service as the nation’s largest carrier by volume in 2025, according to ShipMatrix Inc.’s annual parcel market study released March 16, 2026. Amazon handled 6.7 billion parcels —a robust 9.8% year-over-year increase —while the USPS delivered 6.6 billion pieces (down 8.3% ). This marks the first time a private entity has claimed the top spot in domestic parcel volume, signaling a

In a 5-4 decision handed down on February 24, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in United States Postal Service v. Konan that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) retains sovereign immunity under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) even when employees intentionally fail to deliver mail . Justice Clarence Thomas, writing for the majority, held that the FTCA's postal exception—which shields the government from liability for claims "arising out of the loss, miscarriage, or negligent

In a landmark deal announced on February 9, 2026, a consortium led by FedEx and private equity powerhouse Advent International has agreed to acquire InPost , Europe's leading provider of automated parcel lockers and out-of-home delivery solutions, in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately €7.8 billion (about $9.2 billion ). The offer price of €15.60 per share (cum dividend) represents a 50% premium to InPost's undisturbed share price from early January 2026. The