Fuel surcharge calculator

How to use the fuel surcharge calculator

Four quick inputs give you the surcharge per mile. Add the optional ones to see it for a whole load.

1. 01

   Pick your price region

   Choose the U.S. average or the EIA region your fuel surcharge schedule follows. The current diesel price fills in from this week's EIA price, and the week it covers is shown under the field.

2. 02

   Check the current diesel price

   Keep the EIA price or type the price your schedule names this week. If the EIA price cannot be loaded, enter it yourself.

3. 03

   Enter your base price and MPG

   Type the base (peg) price from your contract. Leave MPG at 6.5 or enter your truck's own, and use Reset to default to go back.

4. 04

   Add miles and linehaul if you want

   Miles gives you the total surcharge for the load. The linehaul rate shows the surcharge as a share of the rate.

5. 05

   Read the result

   See the surcharge per mile, the total and the share of linehaul. The formula is written out with your numbers so you can compare it with your broker's figure.

How fuel surcharge is calculated

A fuel surcharge is an extra charge on top of the linehaul rate that covers diesel costs above a base price set in the contract. When diesel is at or below the base price, there is no surcharge. When it rises, the surcharge rises with it.

The usual per mile method takes the difference between the current diesel price and the base price, then divides it by the miles per gallon the schedule assumes. Multiply the per mile figure by the miles on the load for the total.

Some schedules use a percentage of linehaul instead, so the calculator can also show the surcharge as a share of the linehaul rate when you enter it. Contracts differ on which price they follow, how often it updates and where it rounds, so check the figure against your own fuel surcharge schedule.

Fuel surcharge example

Take a load of 650 miles with a $2,000 linehaul rate, a current diesel price of $3.75, a base price of $1.25 and a truck that gets 6.5 MPG.

• Price gap: $3.75 − $1.25 = $2.50 per gallon.
• Surcharge per mile: $2.50 ÷ 6.5 MPG = $0.3846, shown as $0.38.
• Total surcharge: $0.3846 × 650 miles = $250.00.
• Share of linehaul: $250 ÷ $2,000 = 12.5%.

Where the diesel price comes from

The calculator fills in the latest EIA weekly retail on-highway diesel price and shows the week it covers. You can choose the U.S. average or one of the EIA regions, and you can type your own price, for example the one named in your fuel surcharge schedule. If the price cannot be loaded, the field stays empty and you enter it yourself.