Understanding Surcharge Fees in Shipping
In Biteship's logistics operations, you may encounter an additional cost component called Surcharge. This fee is imposed by logistics partners to handle certain shipping conditions that fall outside the standard regular service.
The purpose of the surcharge is to ensure packages requiring special handling can still be delivered safely and in accordance with applicable shipping safety regulations.
This article will help you understand:
- What surcharge fees are
- Details of surcharge categories per courier (3PL)
- Important points regarding surcharge billing
- Tips to avoid cost discrepancies
1. What Is a Surcharge Fee?
A surcharge is an additional fee beyond the basic shipping rate (base rate) charged to the sender due to certain factors that increase risk or operational costs, such as extreme weight or types of goods requiring special handling.
2. Surcharge Details Table by Courier
Below is a complete list of surcharge fee categories applicable to each logistics partner (3PL) at Biteship:
| Courier Name | Surcharge Fee Category (Per AWB) | Surcharge Amount |
|---|---|---|
| JNE | Dangerous Goods | 200% of base rate |
| Overweight shipment (70 kg) | 100% of base rate | |
| J&T | Overweight shipment (50 - 70 kg) | 50% of base rate |
| Overweight shipment (71 - 100 kg) | 100% of base rate | |
| Lion Parcel | Overweight shipment (71 - 100 kg) | 50% of base rate |
| Overweight shipment (101 - 150 kg) | 100% of base rate | |
| Overweight shipment 150 kg | 200% of base rate | |
| SAP | High value / Dangerous Goods | 200% of base rate |
| Vaccine / Human remains / Strong odor | 100% of base rate | |
| Flowers | 50% of base rate | |
| Overweight shipment (50 - 69 kg) | 50% of base rate | |
| Overweight shipment (70 kg) | 100% of base rate | |
| SiCepat | Overweight shipment (50), specifically for siuntung & regular services | 100% of base rate |
| TIKI | High value / Dangerous Goods | 200% of base rate |
| Vaccine / Human remains (corpse/cremation ashes) / Shipments with strong odor / Flowers | 100% of base rate | |
| Overweight shipment (150 kg) | 100% of base rate |
3. Important Points Regarding Surcharge Billing
Please note the following provisions to avoid cost mismatches:
- Per AWB Calculation: Surcharge fees are applied to each tracking number that meets the above criteria.
- Physical Validation: Couriers will validate the weight and type of goods at the warehouse. If discrepancies are found, the surcharge will be automatically billed according to the actual data validated by the courier.
4. Conclusion
Understanding surcharge fee details helps you provide transparent pricing information to customers and maintain smooth shipping operations.
If you have further questions, please contact the Biteship support team at support@biteship.com.