Canpar / Loomis:
From October 3, 2025, to January 19, 2026, Canpar and Loomis will apply Peak Season surcharges on parcels that require special handling or are delivered to residential or low-commercial-density areas. These seasonal increases reflect higher operational costs during the busiest shipping period of the year, making it essential for businesses to plan ahead and compare real-time rates.
Below are the Peak Season surcharge tables you can expect during this period:
PEAK SEASON SURCHARGES | ||
| Surcharge Type | Amount per piece | Total Charge Including Peak |
| Extra Care | $7 per package | $30.50 per package |
| Over Length | $7 per package | $31.50 per package |
| Overweight | $7 per package | $35.00 per package |
| Oversize | $50 per package | $149 per package |
| OverMax Size or Weight | $450 per package | $1,450 per package (OverMax Size) $1,660 per package (OverMax Weight) |
Residential Peak Season Surcharge – Effective October 31, 2025
A $2.00 per-shipment residential surcharge will apply to all residential deliveries from October 31, 2025, to January 19, 2026, based on Canpar and Loomis address classification.
Surcharge Descriptions
Understanding how surcharges are triggered helps you avoid unnecessary shipping costs during the holidays:
Extra Care (Non-Conveyable): Applied to items requiring manual handling due to irregular packaging, unique contents, or shapes. Common examples include pails, loose hardware, metal or wood containers, liquids, and items not fully encased in corrugated cardboard.
Over Length: Charged when any single dimension exceeds 48 inches (122 cm).
Oversize: Applied when length plus girth exceeds 130 inches (330 cm) or any single dimension is longer than 96 inches (244 cm).
Overweight: Triggered for packages over 70 lbs (32 kg) and up to 150 lbs (68 kg).
OverMax Size or Weight: Reserved for the largest and heaviest items exceeding:
108 inches in length
150 lbs in weight
165 inches in length + girth
These seasonal adjustments make it more important than ever to check your packaging, verify dimensions, and compare courier options in ShipTime to avoid avoidable charges.
GLS:
From October 6, 2025, to January 16, 2026, GLS will introduce Peak Season surcharges to help maintain delivery quality as parcel volumes surge. These fees apply to items requiring Special Handling, Oversized shipments, Overmax packages, and deliveries to residential or low-density commercial areas.
| PEAK SEASON SURCHARGES | |
| Type of Surcharge | Amount |
| Special Handling | $6.25 per package |
| Large package | $13.95 per package |
| Low commercial density area/Residential | $0.95 per package |
| Over Maximum limits (>10 ft, >150 lbs, >165 circ) | $595 per package |
Surcharge Descriptions
Special Handling: Applied to shipments not fully encased in corrugated cardboard or GLS-approved packaging, including items made of metal, wood, plastics, foam, or cylindrical items such as tubes, barrels, and tires.
Oversized: Any shipment exceeding 1.5 m in length, with a strict limit of 2.0 m on the longest side.
Low Commercial Density / Residential: Applicable when delivery is made to an address classified as primarily residential or low-business-density.
Over Maximum Limits: Triggered when shipments exceed 10 ft in length, 150 lbs in weight, or 165 inches in circumference.
These seasonal increases reinforce the importance of accurate measurements, proper packaging, and comparing multiple couriers to avoid unexpected peak fees.
UPS:
UPS Peak Season surcharges for 2025-2026 apply during three distinct windows, impacting parcels that require Additional Handling, Large Package designation, or fall under Over Maximum Limits. These surcharges reflect heightened demand and limited capacity during holiday shipping peaks.
| PEAK SEASON SURCHARGES | |
| Type of Charge | Amount |
| Additional Handling | $8.25 per package |
| Large Package | $90.50 per package |
| Over Maximum Limits | $485.00 per package |
From November 23, 2025, through December 27, 2025, a Peak-Season surcharge will apply to all UPS parcels requiring special handling, Large Package, or Over Maximum Limits.
| PEAK SEASON SURCHARGES | |
| Type of Charge | Amount |
| Additional Handling | $10.80 per package |
| Large Package | $107.00 per package |
| Over Maximum Limits | $540.00 per package |
From December 28, 2025, through January 17, 2026, a Peak-Season surcharge will apply to all UPS parcels requiring special handling, Large Package, or Over Maximum Limits.
| PEAK SEASON SURCHARGES | |
| Type of Charge | Amount |
| Additional Handling | $8.25 per package |
| Large Package | $90.50 per package |
| Over Maximum Limits | $485.00 per package |
A Peak-Season surcharge will apply to all UPS Air, UPS® Ground, and UPS Ground Saver® packages:
PEAK SEASON SURCHARGES | |||
| Service Level | Oct. 26, 2025 until Nov. 22, 2025 | Dec. 7, 2025 until Dec. 27, 2025 | Dec. 28, 2025 until Jan. 17, 2026 |
UPS Ground Saver® | $8.25 per package | $1 per package | $.40 per package |
| UPS® Ground | $90.50 per package | $1 per package | $.40 per package |
| All UPS Air | $485.00 per package | $2.05 per package | $1.10 per package |
Surcharge Descriptions
Additional Handling: Applied to shipments with:
Longest side over 48 inches or second-longest side over 30 inches
An average package weight over 50 lbs
Packaging that is irregular or not fully encased in corrugated cardboard, such as drums, tires, pails, or cylindrical items
Large Package: Applied when:
Length + girth exceeds 130 inches
Length alone exceeds 96 inches
Shipments are billed at a minimum 90-lb billable weight
Over Maximum Limits: Applies to parcels exceeding UPS network limits:
More than 150 lbs
More than 108 inches in length
More than 165 inches in length + girth
With UPS seasonal costs rising sharply during peak periods, using ShipTime's rate comparison tools ensures you always find the most cost-effective option.
From November 3, 2025, to January 11, 2026, Canada Post will apply Peak Season surcharges to shipments requiring Additional Handling or those classified as Oversized.
| PEAK SEASON SURCHARGES | |
| Type of Surcharge | Amount |
| Additional Handling | $30 per package |
| Oversized (Out-of-Spec) | $400 per package |
Surcharge Descriptions
Special Handling: Applied to non-conveyable items or shipments not properly encased in corrugated cardboard, including fragile, tubular, or chemical-marked parcels.
Oversized: Triggered when:
Any dimension exceeds 1 m (39.4")
The second-longest side measures more than 76 cm (30")
Holiday shipping volumes make it essential to check classification rules and use ShipTime’s tools to avoid unexpected fees.
FedEx:
From September 29, 2025, to January 18, 2026, FedEx will apply Peak Season surcharges to shipments requiring Additional Handling, Oversize classification, or those deemed Unauthorized.
FedEx Express Intra-Canada
FedEx Express Intra-Canada | ||
| Surcharge Type | Demand Surcharge Amount (Base Charge + Additional Demand Charge) | Applicable Services |
| Oversize | $164.50 per shipment | Intra-Canada Package Services |
| Additional Handling | $30.90 (Dimension) $34.50 (Weight) $28.70 (Packaging) per shipment | Intra-Canada Package Services |
FedEx Ground Intra-Canada and International | ||
| Surcharge Type | Base Surcharge | Additional Demand Surcharge |
| Oversize | $109.50 per package | $55 per package |
| Additional Handling | $24.90 (Dimension) / $28.80 (Weight) / $22.70 (Packaging) per shipment | $6 per package |
| Unauthorized Package | $1,195 per package | $450 per package |
Surcharge Descriptions
Oversize: Applied when packages exceed 96 inches in length or 130 inches in length + girth. FedEx applies dimensional weight and a minimum billable weight of 90 lbs for most services.
Additional Handling: Triggered for:
Non-corrugated or irregular packaging
Cylindrical items like tubes, barrels, buckets
Items wrapped in shrink wrap
Shipments with protruding contents or irregular shapes
Heavy items triggering weight-based handling fees
Unauthorized Package: Applied to parcels exceeding major FedEx network thresholds:
More than 108 inches in length
More than 165 inches in length + girth
Weighing more than 150 lbs
Given the steep cost of Unauthorized Package fees, accurate measurements and packaging standards are essential during peak shipping months.
From October 27, 2025, to January 18, 2026, Purolator will apply Peak Season surcharges across Special Handling, Oversized, Residential Heavyweight, Large Package, and Over Maximum Limit categories.
PEAK SEASON SURCHARGES | ||
| Peak Surcharges | Service | Surcharge Amount – Effective Oct. 27, 2025 through Jan. 18, 2026 |
| Peak Additional Handling | Additional Handling | $6 per package |
| Peak Oversized | Oversized | $6 per package |
| Peak Residential Heavyweight | Residential Heavyweight | $6 per package |
| Peak Large Package | Large Package | $55 per package |
| Peak Over Maximum Limit | Over Maximum Limit | $450 per package |
Surcharge Descriptions
Peak Additional Handling: Charged for shipments not fully encased in corrugated cardboard or those made of materials like wood, metal, plastic, canvas, or foam. Also applies to cylindrical items, soft-sided packs exceeding Purolator’s dimension limits, or packages routed through Purolator’s irregular sortation.
Peak Oversized: Applies to shipments weighing more than 50 lbs or measuring more than 48 inches along their longest side.
Peak Residential Heavyweight: Applies to residential deliveries weighing more than 70 lbs.
Peak Large Package: For parcels measuring between 130 inches and 165 inches in total size, billed at a minimum of 90 lbs.
Peak Over Maximum Limit: Triggered when a shipment exceeds 150 lbs, 108 inches in length, or more than 165 inches overall. These are billed at a minimum of 120 lbs.
Planning holiday shipments early and comparing Purolator rates with other leading couriers in ShipTime helps keep your costs predictable throughout peak season.
Choosing the Best Courier During Peak Season
With all courier surcharges outlined above, ShipTime makes it easy to compare every option in one place. Whether you ship occasionally or every day, having multiple national couriers available in a single platform gives you the flexibility to pick the service, price, and delivery speed that works best for your needs.
Plan Ahead for Peak Season
With multiple couriers adjusting their fees during the busiest time of the year, reviewing packaging, confirming dimensions, and comparing rates becomes even more important. ShipTime makes it easy to evaluate options across leading carriers in one place so your business can manage costs, avoid unnecessary surcharges, and keep deliveries on track throughout peak season.
If you need help at any point, you can always contact our Heroic Support™ team.