Unboxing the Trends: USPS Fuel Surcharges, FedEx 2-Hour Delivery, and the Rise of Amazon Shipping With Tim Ranagan and Lori Boyer From EasyPost - Unboxing Logistics Ep. 86

Carrier changes are picking up speed—and starting to impact both costs and service expectations across the industry. In this episode, Tim Ranagan and Lori Boyer from EasyPost break down recent updates from USPS, FedEx, and Amazon. Their conversation focuses on rising surcharges, faster delivery options, and the growing role of Amazon Shipping. USPS introduces fuel surchargesUSPS is introducing its first-ever fuel surcharge, signaling a shift in how the carrier handles cost volatility. Lori explains that while the change is framed as temporary, it reflects broader pressure across the industry as fuel prices and geopolitical factors continue to fluctuate. She says, “I wouldn't be surprised to see a few more surcharges. … We're at the point where [carriers are] really struggling with costs. So we are seeing more of those costs being carried over to shippers in general.”FedEx offers two-hour deliveryFedEx’s new same-day service with two-hour delivery windows shows how major carriers are pushing toward faster fulfillment. These options are exciting, but they’re also expensive, and Lori reassures smaller businesses that they don’t necessarily need to offer customers same-day services. While buyers care a lot about reliability, she notes, they’re “not necessarily pushing speed as much as we sometimes think.”Amazon Shipping gains ground as a carrierAmazon is continuing to invest heavily in its logistics network, including a $4 billion push to expand rural delivery and reach more underserved areas. At the same time, Amazon Shipping is gaining traction as a carrier option within multi-carrier strategies. Lori explains that many businesses are testing it and seeing strong results, adding that “the data shows that Amazon Shipping is becoming a really big player in the carrier industry.” With tools like Luma AI that compare carrier performance across cost, speed, and reliability, more shippers are shifting volume based on what actually performs best.LinksConnect with Lori on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loribboyer/ Connect with Tim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-ranagan-mba-2717bb125/ Visit EasyPost’s website: https://www.easypost.com/