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Yes â DHL Express and Canada Post do apply âpeakâseasonâ or âdemand / additional handlingâ style surcharges around the holiday period, and Purolator also uses a form of peak surcharge (especially for pieces needing special handling). Hereâs a breakdown:
DHL Express
- In DHLâs 2025 service & rate guide for Canada, they state that âone or more Demand Surcharges will apply to shipments during a period of high demand,â which effectively covers the holiday / peak season period. Â
- The âDemand Surchargeâ is used by DHL in their terms and conditions. Â
- Industry commentary suggests that DHL will apply these surcharges (per kg / per lb) during the period from October 1, 2025 through February 16, 2026, covering various Express services. Â
- In the broader DHL / eCommerce side, they also have âpeak surchargesâ for selected timeframes depending on weight, zone, etc. Â
So yes â expect DHL Express to impose extra charges during peak holiday periods (on top of regular surcharges like fuel, remote area, etc.).
Canada Post
- Canada Postâs 2025 Price Action / Rate Notice shows that Peak Season surcharges for additional handling (oversize / unpackaged items) and items that exceed Canada Postâs size / weight specifications (out-of-spec items) will remain in effect from November 3, 2025 to January 11, 2026. Â
- Note that Canada Postâs surcharge is more targeted: it generally applies to additional handling and oversized / out-of-spec items (rather than all parcels across the board). Â
- Their documentation says that they are not adjusting rates for many of the âoptions and surchargesâ in 2025 (i.e. some of those extra fees remain the same as prior years) Â
Thus, Canada Post does use a peak surcharge (for special handling / oversized / out-of-spec) during the holiday window, rather than a blanket âholiday premiumâ on all parcels.
Purolator
- Purolator explicitly has a âPeak Surchargesâ section on their website. Â
- Their policy states that one or more peak surcharge will apply to any shipment or piece traveling through their network during the specified peak period. Â
- The surcharges are primarily tied to Special Handling types (i.e. shipments requiring additional handling, oversized, residential heavyweight, large package, over max limit). Â
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For example, effective October 27, 2025 through January 18, 2026, the following peak surcharge rates apply (for pieces requiring special handling):
- Additional Handling, Oversized, Residential Heavyweight: CAD $6 per piece Â
- Large Package: CAD $55 per piece Â
- Over Maximum Limit: CAD $450 per piece Â
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- Their terms and conditions allow Purolator to modify or extend peak periods at their discretion. Â
So yes â Purolator does impose peak surcharges, though generally limited to special / non-standard shipments rather than all parcels.