Hermes Logistik introduces diesel surcharge

Hermes Logistik has introduced a diesel surcharge in response to the sharp rise in fuel costs in recent months.

As of August 18, the company is imposing a surcharge of EUR 0.20 for all domestic parcels and of EUR 0.40 for all parcels sent to European destinations. The surcharge is shown separately on all invoices.

Hermes said in a notice on its website that it had decided to follow competitors by introducing a surcharge since it could no longer absorb the higher fuel costs despite “many savings measures and the use of modern vehicles”.

German newspaper Handelsblatt reported that with the surcharge Hermes was now more expensive that DHL for consumer parcels. The cheapest Hermes parcel, including the surcharge, now costs EUR 4.10 while DHL charges EUR 3.90. A DHL spokesman told the newspaper that the German parcel market leader has no plans to introduce a diesel surcharge.