A congestion surcharge is an additional freight charge applied when port, terminal, road, rail, warehouse, or delivery congestion increases carrier operating costs or causes delays. In shipping and logistics, it helps carriers recover costs related to longer wait times, rerouting, equipment shortages, missed appointments, yard delays, or reduced terminal productivity. Congestion surcharges may apply by lane, port, container, shipment, or delivery area and can change when traffic, labour, weather, or capacity conditions worsen.
A congestion surcharge is an additional fee imposed by ocean carriers or ports when a terminal is experiencing severe delays due to vessel backups, crane or berth shortages, or labor disruptions.
- Applied per container on affected trade lanes
- Announced by carriers with short notice during congestion events
- Common at major U.S. ports such as Los Angeles, Long Beach, Savannah, and Houston
Monitor carrier announcements and build contingency time into delivery commitments during peak shipping seasons.
For related logistics context, see glossary entries on BAF, PSS (Peak Season Surcharge), GRI (General Rate Increase), and Ocean Freight.
