Carriers occasionally face extra costs delivering packages to certain areas or under certain conditions. When this happens, they pass along unexpected carrier surcharges (UCS) to LVK to cover the added expense and time.
Because UCS charges don't affect every LVK client, raising our base rates to cover them wouldn't be fair to everyone. Instead, LVK passes these charges back only to the affected merchants.
Examples That May Generate UCS Charges
- Delivery to a remote, extended, or super-remote area
- Address corrections or wrong-address return to sender
- Delivery attempts to a new address or multiple delivery attempts
- Additional handling based on weight, DIM, and packaging
- Signature options
- Inside delivery
- International clearance services and related fees
- Delivery Added Surcharge (DAS) and Extended Delivery Added Surcharge (EDAS)
- Weight or DIM differences identified during carrier audits
Example: LVK may estimate a label cost based on an original weight of 13 oz, but the carrier audits the package and charges for the actual weight instead. You might see a UCS Charge Description like: "UCS Weight difference - original weight: 13 (oz.), actual weight: 15.84 (oz.), invoiced weight: 16.00 (oz.): $1.30."
Where Will I See the Charge?
The charge appears on the order's cost breakdown and on your invoice, as shown below:
When Will I Get Charged?
Carrier surcharges follow your regular LVK billing cadence. All UCS charges are applied to the Fulfillment Invoice in your portal.
Additional Resources
- UPS: Daily Rates Guide
- FedEx: Service Guide and Ancillary Fees and Other Shipping Information
- DHL: Service and Rate Guide and Domestic Shipping Services
- Purolator: Surcharge Guide
- Canada Post: Parcel Services Guide
- Canpar: Terms of Service
- USPS: Parcel Size and Weight Fee Standards and DIM Weight and Surcharges
Important
When Smartpost is mapped, FedEx may charge USPS Non-Machinable surcharges, because USPS handles the last mile of delivery: FedEx transports the package to the recipient's area, and USPS completes final delivery.
If you have questions, contact your Customer Success Manager (CSM) or open a support ticket.