Pricing & Surcharges
Peak Season Surcharge (PSS)
A temporary surcharge applied during periods of high demand, when carriers face capacity constraints on a trade lane.
In depth
PSS is applied when demand on a lane outstrips available capacity, most commonly ahead of major retail seasons and before extended factory shutdowns such as Chinese New Year, when shippers rush to move cargo. Unlike a GRI, it is framed as temporary and tied to the peak, though in strong markets it is often extended repeatedly. Shippers with predictable seasonality can reduce exposure by moving volume earlier, but that trades surcharge cost against inventory carrying cost.
Key points
- Temporary surcharge for periods of constrained capacity
- Common before retail peaks and factory shutdown periods
- Framed as temporary but frequently extended in strong markets
- Shipping earlier avoids it but adds inventory cost