Ground fuel surcharge has reached roughly 18–20.5% in recent periods; recalculated weekly against a published index. On a $35 invoice, the fuel line alone can be $4–$5.
A percentage-based surcharge that adjusts weekly with an index. Legitimate in concept — fuel is a real cost — but extractive in application: it is frequently calculated on the marked-up subtotal including other surcharges, not on the base transportation charge alone.
The fuel surcharge is a percentage uplift recalculated weekly and tied to a published fuel-price index (the carriers reference U.S. Department of Energy fuel prices). The concept is defensible — fuel is a genuine and variable cost of carriage. The extraction is in the base the percentage is applied to.
The percentage is frequently applied to the full marked-up subtotal — base transportation plus the residential surcharge, plus DAS, plus handling charges. This means you're paying a fuel surcharge on the residential surcharge — a surcharge on a surcharge. The fair application is fuel as a percentage of base transportation only.
Ground fuel surcharge has reached roughly 18–20.5% in recent periods. On a $35 invoice, the fuel line alone can be $4–$5.
UPS 2026 Tariff/Terms & Conditions of Service §43 (Fuel Surcharges); UPS fuel surcharge index published at ups.com, updated weekly.