By ShipTimeWhat is Special Handling?
Have you ever booked a shipment and seen something called a “Special Handling Surcharge” and asked yourself “What is Special Handling?”
In the shipping business, a special handling surcharge is applied to any non-standard packages that may require manual handling with extra care and time or because the contents of the package are fragile.
Your Packaging Impacts Handling
The best way to ensure that your package will arrive safely in the recipient’s hands is by paying close attention to its packaging.
It is, after-all, the packaging that protects the contents on its journey to its destination, so it is important that the packaging does its job of preserving the contents.
The form of the package can vary in shape, size, weight, type, etc.; this will not alter the route of the shipment, but it will impact the way the package will be handled during transport.
At ShipTime, we’ve worked with our courier partners to compile a helpful list of the most common reasons that a package needs to be marked as requiring special handling:
– Packaging that is encased in an outer shipping container not made of corrugated cardboard materials, including but not limited to – metal, wood, canvas, leather, hard plastic, soft plastic (e.g., plastic bags), or expanded polystyrene foam (e.g., Styrofoam).
– The outer shipping container is covered in shrink wrap or stretch wrap.
– The shape of the package is cylindrical, including (without limitation) mailing tubes, cans, buckets, barrels, drums, or pails.
– The package is bound with metal, plastic, or cloth banding, or has wheels, casters, handles, or straps.
– The packaging has special markings such as this “side up” of “fragile”.
If your package meets any of the above criteria, it may require special handling and be subject to a Special Handling Surcharge.
If this is the case with your shipment, we ask that you simply select the special handling checkbox when preparing your shipment.
This will prevent the courier from applying an adjustment to the shipping cost after the fact.
For additional helpful shipping tips, read our ShipTips article.
Keep in mind that special handling is added per shipment and will not automatically be applied the next time you ship the same item.
Each courier has their own criteria for what they classify as a non-standard shipment. Here is what some of our courier partners consider to be special handling:
Each courier has their own criteria for what they classify as a non-standard shipment. Here is what some of our courier partners consider to be special handling:
Loomis: Any articles due to their nature (e.g., size, shape, packaging, contents) are deemed by Loomis Express, in its sole discretion, to be unsuitable for our sorting facilities (e.g. ball bearings, nuts, bolts and fasteners, liquids, wooden or metal crates and non conveyable items). – Any package or article; pail or container not fully encased in an appropriate shipping container.
Canpar: An “Irregular” Extra Care charge may apply to any articles that, due to their nature (e.g., shape, packaging, contents), are deemed by Canpar Express, in its sole discretion, to be unsuitable for our sorting facilities (e.g. liquids, wooden or metal crates, fabric rolls, and non-conveyable items). This includes any package, article, pail or container not fully encased in a new rigid corrugated carton or any package or article that requires repackaging due to inappropriate or insufficient original packaging.
GLS: Any article that is not fully encased in corrugated cardboard or in GLS Canada-Approved Packaging, including but not limited to metal, wood, hard plastic, soft, plastic, or expanded polystyrene foam. Any cylindrical-like item, such as a barrel, drum, liquids, glass, pail, tube or tire, that is not fully encased in a corrugated cardboard box or shipping container.
Purolator: Purolator may accept Courier Shipments that require special handling. All Courier Shipments that require special handling will not be eligible for Purolator’s service guarantees. Where a Shipment requires special handling, an additional charge will be applied, including, without limitation, if the Shipment falls within the following categories:
(i) Additional Handling: a. Shipments with outer packaging made of wood or metal, or bundled together with metal strapping; b. Shipments that contain high-risk items, which are not packaged according to Purolator’s accepted standards (see “Purolator Packaging Guide”) and are deemed high risk at Purolator’s discretion; c. Non-packaged (unboxed) articles (excluding Purolator Express Envelopes, Purolator Express Packs, Purolator Express Boxes and document Shipments); or 17 d. Objects not fully encased in a suitable shipping container (e.g. tires, pails and duffel bags) or not packaged according to Purolator’s accepted standards (see “Purolator Packaging Guide”).
(ii) Oversized: Packages that weigh more than 70 lbs (approx. 32 kg), but less than or equal to 150 lbs (approx. 68 kg), or their longest side measures more than 48″ (approx. 122 cm) and less than or equal to 108″ (approx. 274 cm);
(iii) Residential Area Heavyweight: Packages that are considered heavyweight items for standard residential area pickup or delivery because they weigh more than 70 lbs (approx. 32 kg) and less than or equal to 150 lbs (approx. 68 kg);
(iv) Large Package: Packages that measure between 130″ (approx. 330 cm) and 165″ (approx. 419 cm) in total overall Piece size;
(v) Over Maximum Limit: Packages that are over the maximum limit because they weigh more than 150 lbs (approx. 68 kg), measure more than 165″ (approx. 419 cm) in total overall Piece size, or their longest side measures more than 108″ (approx. 274 cm); and
(vi) Flat Package: Packages that have their longest side measure more than 18″ (approx. 45 cm) and their shortest side measure less than or equal to 2″ (approx. 5 cm).
DHL: With DHL, the following are considerations for Special/Additional Handling:
Overweight Piece:
– Anything in a shipment exceeding 70kg
– A fixed surcharge is applied to every piece, including a pallet that exceeds a scale or volumetric weight of 70kg.
– Applies to international shipments.
Oversize Piece:
– Large pieces exceeding 120 cm
– A fixed surcharge applies to every piece, including a pallet, with a single dimension in excess of 120 cm.
– Does not apply to pieces already subject to Overweight Piece surcharge
– Applies to international shipments.
Canada Post: Items mailed under this Agreement may be subject to one or more of the following surcharges:
– Surcharges for non-compliance with mail specification or preparation requirements
– Fuel surcharge
– Mailing tube surcharge
– Additional Handling surcharges (Oversize and Unpackaged)
– Out of spec surcharge.
Details regarding such surcharges are set out on the Postal Services Information website at canadapost.ca/postalservices. Canada Post may amend the surcharges at any time.
Nationex: Oversized or non-conveyable parcels (NCV):
Oversized parcels (from 36’’ or more than 70lb), un-packaged parcels or parcels that cannot be put on a conveyor are subject to a surcharge.
Oversized length (from 100”) Oversized parcels (from 100”) are subject to a special surcharge. NCV charge also applies.
Whether shipping single packages across town, shipping internationally across the globe, or sending less-than-truckload (LTL) freight, ShipTime compares the most trusted couriers to find you the best price every time you ship with discounts of up to 65% vs retail. We have pre-negotiated rates with the top national couriers, no need to set up multiple accounts with each. With Purolator, FedEx, DHL, Canpar, GLS, and more, we have you covered.
Ship Smarter – with ShipTime, we are a true partner beyond just discounted rates. We provide a best in class platform with features such as Branded Tracking, ShipTime Insurance, and eCommerce connections to the top platforms (Shopify, WooCommerce, Ecwid, and more).
Backed by our legendary Heroic Support™ team, you can sleep easy with ShipTime’s best-in-class customer care. Our bilingual team is available by phone, live chat, or email Monday – Friday from 8:30AM to 8PM EST.
