UPS Announces Price Increase of 5.9%

We just received this email from UPS about their upcoming Rate Increases:

2024 Rates and Services

This summer, UPS and the U.S. Teamsters reached a new five-year labor agreement that rewards our hardworking people and sets us up to better serve you. We want to thank you for continuing to trust us with your shipping needs.

At UPS, we are committed to investing in the best team in the industry, innovative technology, and an unmatched global network. This is all to ensure that you can serve your customers with needed speed and reliability. To help you plan ahead, here is a summary of our rate changes for 2024.

• Effective December 3, 2023, UPS Air Freight rates within and between the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico will increase an average net 6.3%.
• Effective December 26, 2023, the rates for UPS® Ground, UPS® Air and International will increase an average net 5.9%.

The impact of the rate changes on your shipping costs will vary according to your shipping characteristics and the terms of your UPS agreement. For additional information about these and other important changes, and to get the most up-to-date shipping rates, visit ups.com/rateupdates . The 2024 UPS Rate and Service Guide will be available to download on ups.com/rateupdates on or before December 26, 2023. An updated version of the 2023 Rate and Service Guide with revised UPS Air Freight rates will be available to download on ups.com/rateupdates on or before December 3, 2023.

If you are not already enrolled, please visit ups.com/subscribe to sign up to receive email notifications on rate and service updates, regulatory changes and critical information related to shipping with UPS. You can sign up to receive newsletters, shipping tips or other information from UPS as well.

We appreciate your trust in UPS, and we are dedicated to continuing the highest levels of service for your business through reliable service and innovative solutions.

Sincerely,

Sophia Shoate
President, U.S. Sales

Can the Media alter Facts? BPA vs BPS

There are some new rumors spreading via media outlets concerning Thermal Paper. The “facts” that are being presented appear to be a misrepresentation of 10 year old news regarding BPA in thermal paper. These reports seem to be inverting the chemical BPA with BPS to reengage the conversations relating to “Is Thermal Paper Safe”.

This is a news release, by one of the leading Thermal Paper Associations that will shed more details on the situation.

Advocacy

If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know.

Brandon Kent
Vice President
Telemark Diversified Graphics
bkent@telemarkcorp.com

Big Changes Coming to LTL Freight

On June 9, 2023 we received notice from the Freight Classification Development Council (FCDC) that LTL freight classes will be changing, based on Density, not overall weight and product type.

This will take effect on AUGUST 5, 2023.

Traditionally all of our paper has always been classified as Class 55, however, if the freight density does not meet this category requirements, we will have to ship under other, more expensive categories.   This is going to make “estimating” LTL freight very difficult moving forward.  Attached is the documentation of the changes that will affect all of us.

Shipping LTL Catagory Changes

If you enjoy math, here is the actual calculation we must use to figure freight density and product classification:

The formula to determine the density of an item is: LxWxH / 1728 = Cubic Feet (CU FT), Weight (Pounds)/CU FT = Density (#PCF)

  1. Measure the shipment’s dimensions: length, width, height.
  2. Multiply the measurements together (length x width x height).
  3. Divide the result by 1,728 (cubic inches per foot) to find the cubic feet of the shipment.
  4. Divide the weight by the total cubic feet. This result is the freight density, or pounds per cubic foot (#PCF).

If you have any questions, please let us know.

Brandon Kent

Vice President

Telemark Diversified Graphics

bkent@telemarkcorp.com

Washington State Postpones BPA/BPS Rollout

The state of Washington has pushed back the enforcement of BPA/BPS Free Paper by 1 year.  Previously stated enforcement dates of  January 1, 2025 have been pushed back to January 1, 2026.

See attached link directly from the State of Washington

https://www.sgs.com/en/news/2023/06/safeguards-6923-washington-state-adopts-final-rule-under-safer-products-program

 

173-337 WAC: Bisphenols reporting requirements and restrictions

Product Effective date Requirement
Drink cans January 1, 2025
  • Prohibition of bisphenol-based epoxy can liner (excluding TMBPF based liners)
  • Rebuttable presumption1
Food cans January 1, 2024
  • Reporting of bisphenol-based epoxy can liner (excluding TMBPF based liners)
  • Rebuttable presumption1
Thermal paper January 1, 2026
  • Prohibition of intentionally added bisphenols
  • Rebuttable presumption2

1 The Department of Ecology presumes the detection of a bisphenol, excluding TMBPF, indicates a bisphenol-based epoxy can liner

2 The Department of Ecology presumes the detection of bisphenol concentrations above 200 ppm indicate intentionally added bisphenols