DPD Germany will pay out part of diesel surcharges to sub-contractors

DPD Germany will pay out part of the diesel surcharge it collects fromcustomers to self-employed delivery drivers, the courier and express services association BdKEPreported.

 

The BdKEP, which represents mostly small courier firms, described DPD’sdecision as “a sensation” and said that until now the parcels operator has only passed on thesurcharge to its drivers in exceptional cases. Smaller companies have been already trying in vainfor years to get not only DPD but also GLS, UPS and TNT to pay the diesel surcharge that they claimthey are entitled to, the association added.

 

The BdKEP said it took up the issue of the surcharges with DPD after thesub-contractors’ organisation ISSiT became part of the association earlier this year.

 

Most parcel companies charge the shipper an additional fee on top of theparcel price to cover the increased fuel prices and to maintain stable prices this way. DPDintroduced the surcharge in 2005 to cope with fluctuating fuel prices. However, it was not paid outto the delivery companies which generate the diesel costs in the DPD system. Since no parceloperator has its own vehicles except partly for DHL and UPS, the surcharge should be paid out tosubcontractors, the BdKEP claimed. But hardly any depot has done this for more than fiveyears.

 

Despite DPD’s decision, Rudolf Pfeiffer, the chairman of the BdKEP,pointed out that further disputes were yet to come: “It’s not only about cost-covering payments forparcel deliveries but also about unfair competition and reasonable working conditions in theindustry.”

DPD Germany spokeswoman Pia-Maria Zecevic told CEP-Research that DPD is impacted by risingfuel costs like all other market players. “This cost development is naturally reflected in theprice calculation for our customers and in the payments for our system partners. Depending on theindividual contracts, this is partly done on the basis of a so-called diesel floater,” shesaid.