With U.S. domestic shipping costs continuing to rise, many businesses assume higher shipping expenses are unavoidable. In practice, however, most excessive shipping costs are not driven by base carrier rates , but by operational inefficiencies, hidden accessorial charges, and avoidable process errors . Based on real-world domestic shipping operations, companies can often reduce 20–30% of annual U.S. shipping costs —without sacrificing delivery speed or customer experience—by

The New Shipping Challenges of 2025 In 2025, major U.S. carriers continue to adjust their rate structures: New Dimension Rounding Rule:  All package dimensions will be rounded up to the next whole inch, increasing the DIM weight. Fuel Surcharges:  Rising fuel price volatility makes fuel surcharges a permanent cost factor. Residential and Remote Area Fees (DAS/LPS):  More ZIP codes are being added to surcharge zones each year. These changes have raised small-business shipping

In e-commerce logistics, dimensional weight (DIM weight)  is one of the most overlooked yet critical factors affecting shipping costs....