Volumetric weight is one of several reasons shipping costs vary on international shipments. Often when the costs of the shipping are finalised clients can find that there are more costs than they bargained for. This is due to carrier charges such as:
- Airfreight is charged as a volumetric weight rather than the actual weight
- Duties and taxes are added
- Remote area costs have been added.
- Fuel surcharges
- Oversize parcels
By way of explanation, we will try to answer these queries
1. What is volumetric weight?
When shipping by road the carrier is interested in the weight of the boxes being shipped. Understandably, because the weight and distance travelled is the determining factors in the carriers’ costs.
For airfreight this is different. The carrier is also interested in the volume the parcels take up within an aircraft. Light, but bulky packages are therefore charged at a premium which take this into account.
The volumetric weight is a theoretical weight calculated by the carrier based on the size of the box.
For example: a box 45cm x 45cm x 25cm might weigh 8kg
By road you would be charged for 8 kg
The volumetric weight however is calculated on the assumption of 250Kg per cubic metre.
By air you would thus be charged for the volumetric weight of 12.66kg for the same box
To calculate the volumetric weight. multiply the height x width x length in cm and divide by 4000.
PDI tries to take this into account when quoting shipping costs on an order, however we only know the volume of the packages once it is packed. We measure this, many fulfilment companies will not.
2. Duties and taxes
When shipping internationally you will be faced with the duties and taxes of the country you are sending to. Your shipping company cannot always determine how large these will be – given the vast number of countries, trading blocks, commodity codes and constantly changing tariff and tax rules it is impossible to give accurate information for all but the largest shipments.
3. Remote area charges
Courier companies will give a price for any country in the world based on ‘zones’ – in turn based on the distance being shipped. However, for some countries – Australia and India come to mind – even though the country has a ‘zone’ used to estimate the costs, there can be additional costs if the location is away from the major towns and cities and deemed remote. We cannot always know when these charges will be imposed nor how much they will be until after the shipment is made.
4. Fuel surcharges
All couriers include a fuel surcharge and we at PDI take this into account in our shipping costs. But the fuel surcharge changes on a monthly basis and if there are wild swings in the oil price there can be additional charges outside of anyone’s control
5. Oversize parcels
Whilst weight is the determining factor in parcel charges, very heavy parcels and extra-large parcels will attract a ‘handling charge’. Anything over 25kg will have an additional charge. Sensible in that health and safety rules suggest no-one should be trying to lift such a parcel. We would always recommend palletisation for any such heavy goods. Also, anything over 175 cm long will attract an additional handling charge. PDI can advise before shipping if any parcels are oversize or overweight.