USPS Is Moving to Raise Its Fuel Surcharge to 11% in January and Make It Permanent
The U.S. Postal Service is moving to make its fuel surcharge permanent and raise it in January, a step that still needs Postal Regulatory Commission approval. The surcharge would go from 8% to 11%, and certain domestic shipping services would rise an average of 5.9%, Transport Topics reports.
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How it got here
The Postal Service first added a fuel fee in April, after diesel prices jumped. It now wants to make that fee permanent.
The agency lost $6.5 billion in fiscal 2026, an improvement from the $9 billion it lost the year before. The Postmaster General has reportedly warned the agency could run out of money as soon as February.
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The contrast for small carriers
Many small trucking companies have paid record diesel prices all year without a fuel surcharge at all. Surcharges mostly come with contract freight, not loads booked on the spot market, according to a FreightWaves analysis of small fleets.
Why it matters to truckers
Shipping costs for small businesses that mail parts and supplies would go up in January if the filing is approved. For owner-operators, truck drivers who run their own business, the news is a reminder to ask whether a load pays a fuel surcharge before accepting it. Small fleets have been shrinking under these costs, as the report on small fleets losing 36,000 tractors showed.
Quick facts
- Surcharge now: 8%.
- Surcharge proposed from January: 11%, and permanent, pending PRC approval.
- Certain domestic shipping services: up an average of 5.9%.
- Fiscal 2026 loss: $6.5 billion.
FAQ
When does the new surcharge start?
In January, if the Postal Regulatory Commission approves the filing. The surcharge would rise from 8% to 11% and become permanent.
Why is the Postal Service seeking higher prices?
It lost $6.5 billion in fiscal 2026.
How much did it lose the year before?
About $9 billion.
A question for readers
Owner-operators, how many of your loads actually pay a real fuel surcharge?
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Sources
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