Carrier adjustments can be an unwelcome surprise for both businesses and customers. These additional charges are assessed by the courier and added to the cost of shipping when certain conditions apply—most commonly due to incorrect measurements, address issues, or packaging problems. To help you navigate carrier adjustments and minimize their impact on your shipping expenses, we’ve put together practical tips and guidance below.
Understanding carrier adjustments
A carrier adjustment is an additional charge assessed by the courier for services or situations that fall outside standard shipping conditions. Carrier adjustments help cover the additional operational costs carriers incur due to factors such as extra processing, delivery challenges, or unique shipment characteristics. Products with exceptional handling requirements or unusual shipping circumstances may result in carrier adjustments.
To learn more about common and carrier-specific carrier adjustments, please visit: Understanding Carrier Adjustments in Shippo
Avoiding carrier adjustments: Exact measurements matter
One of the most common causes of carrier adjustments is inaccurate shipment measurements. To reduce the likelihood of billing corrections and additional charges, follow these tips:
Measure multiple times: Accurate measurements are key. Measure your shipments more than once to ensure the weight and dimensions are correct.
Round up dimensions: Round up package dimensions to the nearest whole unit when entering measurements. This can help prevent discrepancies that might trigger carrier adjustments during carrier audits.
Calibrate your scale: Before weighing your packages, confirm that your scale is properly calibrated to avoid inaccurate weight readings.
Check carrier restrictions: Consult the carrier’s official website to understand service restrictions and dimensional limits. This can help you select the appropriate service and avoid unexpected carrier adjustments.
Avoiding address-related carrier adjustments
Address-related carrier adjustments can often be avoided by verifying the recipient’s address before shipping. Typos or missing address information may result in address correction carrier adjustments.
When shipping to a business, include a suite number if the address contains multiple businesses (not just the business name).
If you are unsure about the address, consider using an address validation tool to confirm the information before creating the label.
Carrier adjustments due to packaging issues
Packaging-related carrier adjustments often occur when packages do not meet a carrier’s packaging or handling requirements. Below are common situations that may result in packaging-related carrier adjustments:
Size: Ensure your package dimensions do not exceed the minimum or maximum limits defined by the carrier.
Weight: Confirm your package is within the acceptable weight range. Packages that exceed limits may incur additional charges.
Shape: Avoid irregularly shaped packages that cannot be processed automatically on conveyor systems, such as tubes, L-shaped boxes, or multiple boxes glued together.
Quality materials: Packages are audited multiple times throughout their journey. Use durable packaging materials that maintain their shape in transit.
Special handling: Packages labeled “fragile” may require additional handling and could result in carrier adjustments depending on the carrier’s policies.
Legibility: Ensure the shipping label is clear and readable. Incorrect or illegible labels may require relabeling, which can result in additional charges.
Helpful resources:
How to measure a box correctly
Measuring a box accurately is essential to avoid carrier adjustments related to incorrect packaging dimensions.
Note on internal dimensions: Printed box dimensions typically represent the internal dimensions of the box and may differ from the measurements carriers audit during transit. |
Follow these steps when measuring a box:
Length: Measure the longest side of the box from the opening.
Width: Measure the shorter side of the box at the opening.
Depth (Height): Measure the depth or height of the box from the opening.
These measurements are often expressed in millimeters as an industry-standard unit. Box dimensions are typically listed in this order:
Length × Width × Depth (Height)
Example: 800 mm × 400 mm × 100 mm
(Visual reference: the diagram in the article illustrates Length, Width, and Depth.)
Additional guidance
You can also watch the informative video provided by the United States Postal Service for additional guidance on measuring shipments accurately.
By following these best practices and understanding what may lead to carrier adjustments, you can reduce the likelihood of additional charges and improve the efficiency of your shipping process. Taking proactive steps to ensure accurate shipment details can help prevent unexpected billing adjustments and reduce overall shipping costs.
To learn more about carrier adjustments, consult the individual carrier documentation or review Shippo’s guide: Understanding Postal Carrier Adjustments in Shippo