OnTrac peak and demand surcharges: 2026–2027
OnTrac’s peak season surcharges for 2026–2027 are a flat $1.00 on every residential package from October 24, 2026 to January 15, 2027, and supplemental charges on packages that already carry a handling or size surcharge, from September 26, 2026 to the same end date. OnTrac does not call them peak surcharges: on its invoices and surcharge schedule they appear as Demand charges, such as Demand Residential and Demand Additional Handling. Unlike UPS and FedEx, OnTrac charges one amount for the whole season, with no higher rate in December.
OnTrac demand surcharges, 2026–2027
| Demand charge | Per package | Effective | Applies to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demand Residential | $1.00 | October 24, 2026–January 15, 2027 | Deliveries to a residence, including a business run from a home |
| Demand Additional Handling | $11.00 | September 26, 2026–January 15, 2027 | Packages meeting the additional handling criteria |
| Demand Large Package | $110.00 | September 26, 2026–January 15, 2027 | Packages meeting the large package criteria |
| Demand Over Max Limits | $595.00 | September 26, 2026–January 15, 2027 | Packages over OnTrac’s maximums found in its network |
| Demand Unauthorized | $595.00 | September 26, 2026–January 15, 2027 | Unauthorized packages found in its network |
Source: OnTrac surcharges and rates page, read October 28, 2026.
The criteria are the same as for the year-round charges. Additional handling applies to a package over 48 in on its longest side, over 30 in on its second side, over 50 lb actual weight or over 8,640 cubic inches, or one not fully encased in corrugated cardboard. Large package applies over 72 in, 110 lb or 17,280 cubic inches. Over max limits covers packages over 150 lb billable weight, 108 in long or 165 in in length plus girth, which OnTrac does not accept for carriage.
Which charges stack and which do not
A demand charge applies alongside the year-round charge of the same kind: a large package pays both the large package surcharge and the demand large package charge. OnTrac documents specific exclusions between the size charges:
- Additional handling, and demand additional handling, are not assessed when a large package, over max limits or unauthorized charge applies.
- Neither additional handling nor large package is assessed when an over max limits or unauthorized charge applies.
So a large package pays demand large package and not demand additional handling. Demand Residential is separate and applies to any residential package, including an oversized one going to a home.
A contracted discount on the residential charge does not necessarily extend to Demand Residential. Check how your agreement treats it.
Standard vs holiday: what the demand charges add
Three packages at OnTrac list rates, priced outside the demand period and inside it. Fuel is held at the national 26.75% in both columns, so the difference is the demand charge plus the fuel on it.
| Package | Standard season | Holiday season | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 lb, 10 × 8 × 6 in, zone 4, residential. Base $16.65, residential $6.60, plus Demand Residential $1.00 | $29.47 | $30.74 | +$1.27 |
| 55 lb, 20 × 16 × 14 in, zone 6, commercial, additional handling by weight. Base $67.99, additional handling $40.00, plus Demand Additional Handling $11.00 | $136.88 | $150.82 | +$13.94 |
| 75 × 12 × 10 in, 30 lb, zone 4, commercial, large package by length; dimensional weight is under 90 lb, so it bills at the 90 lb minimum. Base $73.59, large package $275.00, plus Demand Large Package $110.00; no additional handling | $441.84 | $581.26 | +$139.42 |
Rates: OnTrac 2026 Base Rates and surcharge schedule. Billable weight is the greater of actual and dimensional weight; for the first two packages dimensional weight is below actual at a 139 divisor. Fuel at 26.75% on the package rate and applicable surcharges, rounded to the cent. No delivery area or other charges. Compiled by ebb Logistics.
In the residential example, the demand period adds $1.27: the $1.00 charge plus fuel on it at 26.75%. That is the increment for that package at that fuel rate, not a season-wide average. For bulky goods the size charges are the ones that matter: the large package example costs nearly a third more during the demand period than outside it.
How OnTrac compares with UPS and FedEx
| Charge | OnTrac | UPS | FedEx |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential, ground services | $1.00, October 24, 2026 to January 15, 2027 | Ground Residential: $0.50 from October 25; $0.75 from November 22 to December 26; $0.50 to January 16, 2027 | Ground Residential and Home Delivery: $0.50 from October 26; $0.80 from November 23 to December 27; $0.50 to January 17, 2027 |
| Additional handling | $11.00 | $8.75; $11.90 at peak | $8.80; $11.85 at peak |
| Large package / oversize | $110.00 | $96.25; $117.50 at peak | $95.75; $117.25 at peak |
| Over maximum / unauthorized | $595.00 | $530.00; $590.00 at peak | $535.00; $595.00 at peak |
Sources: OnTrac surcharges and rates page; UPS demand surcharge schedule, 2026; FedEx demand surcharges page, 2026. Handling and size charges: OnTrac September 26, 2026 to January 15, 2027; UPS September 27, 2026 to January 16, 2027, at the peak amount from November 22 to December 26; FedEx September 28, 2026 to January 17, 2027, at the peak amount from November 23 to December 27. FedEx’s air and Ground Economy demand charges differ from the ground residential figures shown. UPS and FedEx also apply higher tiered residential charges to large shippers whose volume grows past a baseline.
OnTrac’s residential charge is higher than either national carrier’s, even at their December peak, but OnTrac has no tiered schedule that raises it for shippers who grow quickly. Its handling and size charges sit between the two national carriers’ standard and peak amounts. Our UPS and FedEx peak guides have the full schedules and calculators.
Reducing what you pay
- Package to stay under the handling thresholds. If length is the only trigger, a box cut to 47 in instead of 49 in avoids $40.00 of additional handling and $11.00 of demand charge in zones 5 and 6, plus the fuel on both. It does not help if the package also exceeds the weight, second-side or cubic limits, or fails the packaging criteria.
- Ask for the demand charges in your agreement. Demand charges can be addressed in an agreement like any other surcharge. In our experience, terms on them are easier to get when an agreement is negotiated before the season than during it.
- Price the alternatives for the season. For heavy residential volume, a $1.00 flat charge compares with $0.50 to $0.75 at UPS; for bulky goods the comparison runs the other way at peak.
Our OnTrac rates and surcharges hub has the year-round surcharges, and the OnTrac fuel surcharge guide has this week’s percentage. If you want the season priced on your own shipments, our free savings analysis does that.
Frequently asked questions
Does OnTrac have peak surcharges?
Yes, under the name demand surcharges. For 2026–2027 they run from September 26, 2026 for handling and size charges and from October 24, 2026 for residential, to January 15, 2027.
Does the OnTrac demand residential charge apply to every package?
To every residential package, including a business operated from a home, with no volume threshold or baseline. Commercial deliveries do not carry it.
Is fuel charged on OnTrac demand surcharges?
OnTrac applies fuel to the package rate plus applicable fees and surcharges, so expect fuel on the demand charges unless your agreement excludes them. The worked examples above include it.
When do OnTrac’s demand surcharges end?
January 15, 2027, for all five charges.
Sources
- OnTrac, Surcharges and Rates, for the 2026–2027 demand charges, their criteria and dates, the year-round surcharges and the 2026 base rates, read October 28, 2026.
- UPS demand surcharge schedule, 2026, and FedEx demand surcharges page, 2026, as summarized in our UPS and FedEx peak guides.