Hey Joel, if you set up an account with fedex you can negotiate your discount, mine is around 20%, if you print all your shipping labels online you save another 10%, if you pay with an American Express you save another 5%. All this helps to offset the fuel surcharge.
Technically DHL does not ship livestock, that is why you are having trouble with a credit. I had a rep in trying to get my shipping business, when he found out I was shipping corals he said they couldn't help me.
Travis