Know exactly what your fuel surcharge should be on every load. Enter diesel prices and your contract terms to see the surcharge per mile, total surcharge, and adjusted rate.
DOE Reference: The U.S. Department of Energy publishes the national average diesel price weekly at eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel. Most fuel surcharge schedules are based on this number.
| Diesel | Surcharge/Mi | Adj. Rate |
|---|---|---|
| $3.00 | $0.1080 | $2.6080 |
| $3.50 | $0.1380 | $2.6380 |
| $4.00◄ | $0.1680 | $2.6680 |
| $4.50 | $0.1980 | $2.6980 |
| $5.00 | $0.2280 | $2.7280 |
| $5.50 | $0.2580 | $2.7580 |
Flintrock OS tracks diesel prices, calculates fuel surcharges automatically, and applies them to every load. No spreadsheets. No missed surcharges.
Get Early AccessHow fuel surcharges work and why they matter for your bottom line.
A fuel surcharge (FSC) is an extra charge added to freight rates to offset the cost of diesel fuel when prices exceed a base level. It protects both carriers and shippers from volatile fuel prices. Most contracts specify a base diesel price and a surcharge schedule — when diesel goes above the base, the surcharge kicks in proportionally.
The most common method uses the DOE (Department of Energy) weekly national average diesel price. The formula is: (Current Price - Base Price) × Surcharge Rate = Surcharge Per Mile. For example, if diesel is $3.89, your base is $1.20, and the rate is 6 cents per $1.00 increase: ($3.89 - $1.20) × 0.06 = $0.1614/mile. This gets added to your base line-haul rate.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) publishes the national average diesel price every Monday. This is the standard benchmark used in most fuel surcharge programs. Prices vary by region — the EIA also publishes regional averages for more accurate calculations. Most brokers and carriers use the national average for simplicity.
Three things to negotiate: (1) A lower base price means a higher surcharge — push for legacy base prices around $1.10–$1.25. (2) A higher cents-per-dollar rate means more protection — 6–8 cents per $1.00 is common. (3) Weekly updates vs. monthly — weekly tracking protects you when prices spike. Never accept a 'fuel included' rate unless the rate is high enough to cover $5+/gal diesel.
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Common questions about fuel surcharges in trucking.
The standard formula: (Current Diesel Price − Base Diesel Price) × Surcharge Rate = Fuel Surcharge Per Mile. For example, if diesel is $3.89/gal, your base is $1.20/gal, and the rate is 6 cents per $1.00 increase: ($3.89 − $1.20) × 0.06 = $0.1614/mile. Add that to your base line-haul rate to get the total rate per mile.
Fuel surcharge rates vary by contract and current diesel prices. Most trucking contracts use the DOE/EIA national average diesel price published weekly. Surcharges typically range from 15% to 35% of the base freight rate when diesel is in the $3.50–$4.50/gal range. Enter the current EIA diesel price in the calculator above for an accurate result.
A fuel surcharge (FSC) is an extra charge added to freight rates to offset diesel costs when prices exceed a contracted base price. It protects carriers from fuel price volatility. Most contracts specify a base diesel price above which the surcharge applies — commonly $1.10–$1.25/gal for legacy contracts or $2.50–$3.00/gal for newer ones.
Most fuel surcharge programs update weekly, based on the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) national average diesel price published every Monday. Some contracts update monthly. Weekly updates offer better protection when diesel prices spike rapidly.
A lower base price means the surcharge activates sooner — giving you more protection. Legacy contracts often use $1.10–$1.25/gal. Newer contracts may use $2.50–$3.00/gal. Always negotiate for the lowest base price possible. Also negotiate a higher cents-per-dollar rate (6–8 cents per $1.00 is standard) for greater coverage.