---
title: "Fuel surcharges and rising costs push shippers toward automation"
type: "News"
locale: "en"
url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/286847965.md"
description: "FedEx and UPS have raised fuel surcharges to nearly 28% due to rising fuel prices. As shipping costs increase, many small and medium-sized retailers are discontinuing free return labels and passing costs to customers. In response, high-volume shippers are increasingly adopting automation, including AI-driven tools, to enhance efficiency and reduce expenses."
datetime: "2026-05-19T03:19:18.000Z"
locales:
  - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/286847965.md)
  - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286847965.md)
  - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/286847965.md)
---

# Fuel surcharges and rising costs push shippers toward automation

Fuel surcharges climb: FedEx and UPS have increased fuel surcharges to nearly 28%, up from around 19% last year, as fuel prices rise. Retailers adjust returns: Higher shipping costs are leading more small and medium-sized retailers to end free return labels and shift return costs to customers. Automation gains traction: High-volume shippers are adopting automated rate shopping and AI-driven predictive tools to save time, cut costs, and improve delivery performance.

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