Canadian Carrier Rate Increase Tracker: Who Has Announced, and When

By Paul Kalra, founder of Part n Parcel

Last updated October 1, 2026. Reviewed by Paul Kalra, founder of Part n Parcel.

I have multiple calendar reminders for carrier rate increases. Different carriers, different dates.

Getting a good shipping rate is one job. Making sure it stays good is another.

Every year, after the increase lands, merchants ask me what happened to their rates. So this page is my calendar, made public. It tracks each carrier’s next annual rate increase (carriers call it a general rate increase, or GRI). When a carrier announces, we update its row.

Where each carrier stands

The table shows each carrier’s latest increase, when it takes effect, and when that carrier usually announces. We update a row as soon as a carrier posts, and the date we last checked is in the last column.

Confirmed means the carrier published the date or confirmed it to Part n Parcel. Expected means its past notices show when it usually lands. Not announced means no notice yet. These are list rates. Your agreement decides what you actually pay.

This page covers annual rate increases only. Holiday peak fees, including Canada Post’s and Purolator’s 2026 peak surcharges, are in our holiday shipping tracker. For which carriers are closed on each holiday, see our carrier holiday closures page.

What does a rate increase mean for you?

Most negotiated rates are a discount off the carrier’s list rate. When the list rate goes up, the same discount costs you more.

Take a $20 list rate with a 50% discount. You pay $10.

Now the list rate goes up 6% to $21.20. Your discount is still 50%. You now pay $10.60.

At 1,000 parcels a month, that 60 cents is $600 a month. That is $7,200 a year, for the same parcels.

The 6% is an example, not any carrier’s number. It assumes a straight percentage discount with no minimum charge. Your agreement needs its own math.

It compounds, too. Three 6% increases in a row make the same parcels cost 19.1% more.

The Second Job: after you win a good shipping rate, the second job is keeping it good. Each annual increase raises the list price your discount comes off. A deal that looked good last year can cost more this year, with not one word of it changed.

It probably feels like you did the hard part when you negotiated.

Send one invoice, get a written analysis, no call.

Headline increase vs what you actually pay

The number a carrier announces is an average change to its list rates. Your bill can rise by more or by less.

1. Fees rise on their own. On January 5, 2026, FedEx Canada raised its intra-Canada oversize charge from $159.50 to $169 and its residential delivery surcharge from $4.65 to $4.80, on top of any change to base rates. Source: FedEx Canada rate changes. In 2023, Canada Post’s domestic average was 3.4%, but its oversize surcharge rose 16.7%. Source: Canada Post 2023 notice.
2. Fees change mid-year. FedEx Canada raised its disbursement fee minimum from $11.40 to $12.00 on July 20, 2026, with no annual increase. Source: FedEx Canada rate changes.
3. Fuel rides on top. Purolator’s fuel surcharge is a percentage of your base rate plus surcharges, so a higher base rate means more fuel dollars. Source: Purolator courier fuel surcharges. For this week’s numbers, see our fuel surcharge tracker.
4. Measuring rules change. Since July 19, 2026, Purolator rounds each box dimension up to the next whole inch. Source: Purolator.
5. Your agreement decides. Your number can be higher or lower than the headline.

The Purolator math is in “Worked example: how 5.9% becomes more” at the bottom.

How do you check your own increase?

Before I tell a merchant anything, I ask the carrier for two numbers in writing: the published increase, and the increase on their actual agreement.

Do this now: price 20 real parcels at the old rate and the new rate.

1. Open last month’s invoice for the carrier.
2. Pick 20 parcels that look like your usual mix of weights, box sizes and destinations.
3. Email your carrier rep. Ask for the price of those same 20 parcels at today’s rates and at the new rates, in writing, including fuel and fees.
4. Divide the new total by the old total, then subtract 1. That is your increase. Example: $1,060 divided by $1,000 is 1.06, so 6%.

If your agreement caps the increase, check that the cap held. If it did, you may not need to change anything this year.

To check the rest of your bill, use our invoice audit guide.

Frequently asked questions

When do Canadian carriers raise rates?

Each carrier picks its own date. Purolator changes courier rates on September 1. Canpar usually changes in early October. Canada Post has usually changed in September. FedEx Canada usually changes in early January. The table above shows each carrier’s latest increase and date.

When does Canada Post change its parcel prices?

Canada Post moved its yearly parcel price change to September in 2021 and used September through 2023. In 2025 it changed prices in June. Check the table above for its latest status. We update it when Canada Post posts a notice.

Does my negotiated discount protect me from a rate increase?

Usually not. Most negotiated rates are a discount off the list rate, so when the list rate rises, you pay more at the same discount. A 50% discount on a $20 rate costs $10. After a 6% increase, it costs $10.60. Some agreements work differently. Ask your rep, in writing, how your agreement handles the increase.

How do I find my own rate increase?

Ask your carrier to price 20 of your real parcels at the old rates and the new rates, in writing. Keep the weights, box sizes and destinations the same. Divide the new total by the old total and subtract 1.

Are holiday season fees part of the annual rate increase?

No. Holiday season fees are separate, time-limited charges. They are tracked in our holiday shipping tracker.

Get a written analysis of your own parcels

Part n Parcel is a managed shipping economics company for Canadian ecommerce merchants. We get merchants enterprise rates with national and local carriers through collective volume, on direct carrier accounts opened in their name. We handle setup, carrier routing and the checks after the agreement is signed, and we manage rate increases by negotiating multi-year carrier agreements.

Every increase means rebuilding your bill line by line to see what changed. Nobody has time for that in the middle of peak season.

Send one invoice. You get a written analysis of your own parcels. It shows what your current negotiated rates cost you, and what the same parcels would cost through Part n Parcel. It is free, there is no call, and you do not have to switch shipping platforms.

Send one invoice, get a written analysis, no call.