If you have been shipping with a regular courier service for any length of time then it is entirely possible, and likely in fact, that you have been assessed fuel surcharges for some of your deliveries in the past. You may also have noticed that in recent times those surcharges have reduced or been removed again. This can create confusion amongst many customers who require the shipping of goods on a regular basis, because they aren’t sure when they are going to be charged a fuel surcharge or not. This is going to affect the bottom line of any business, especially one with regular or daily delivery needs, so it is logical that they’re going to want to know ahead of time when a fuel surcharge is going to be assessed, and how much it is going to be.

Any reputable courier service that applies a fuel surcharge is simply doing so in response to the actual price at the pumps. When fuel prices are exceptionally high, the courier company finds themselves compelled to charge a fuel surcharge. The reason for this is that the courier drivers fill their vehicles with gas out of their own money, and when gas prices become extremely high, this can reduce their profit to almost nothing, at which point most would be likely to go and seek new jobs if the courier couldn’t compensate for this somehow. They do this by charging a fuel surcharge, which in turn goes directly to the drivers to help cover the increased cost of fuel that they face during their daily routes. It is not an effort by the courier company to try and increase their profits, and it should never be viewed that way. They are simply forced to pass along the cost of the increased gas prices to their clients in order to remain profitable and retain quality employees.

Any honest courier service should be more than willing to tell you what kind of fuel surcharges they assess. It may be a consistent percentage of current gas prices, which of course can fluctuate daily, or it could be a flat amount assessed when gas prices rise above a predetermined mark. Courier companies have to be open about their fees and charges though, so if you ever don’t understand why you’ve been charged an extra fuel fee, simply call your account representative and discuss the issue directly with them.

Scott Gallagher is an International Consultant for Chicago courier service companies. With exceptional knowledge of courier services in Chicago, Scott is also becoming a small business marketing tool expert.

[tags]Chicago courier service, courier services in Chicago[/tags]