Fuel Surcharge
A fuel surcharge (FSC) is a variable fee added to a freight rate to compensate carriers for fluctuations in diesel fuel prices above a baseline level. It is calculated as a percentage of the line haul revenue, based on the current DOE national diesel price.
In Depth
Fuel surcharges are tied to the EIA/DOE weekly national diesel price report. Most carriers use a published FSC table: when diesel rises $0.05 above a baseline price, the surcharge increases by a fixed increment (typically 0.5–1%).
Fuel surcharges became standard after the 2008 fuel price spike. They protect carriers from fuel cost volatility without requiring complete re-rating of all contracts.
Usage Example
Example: 'The broker's FSC table shows 8.5% surcharge when DOE diesel is $3.80–$3.84/gallon. My load pays $2,000 line haul + $170 fuel surcharge.'
Related Calculators
Related Terms
Accessorial Charges
Accessorial charges are fees added to a freight invoice beyond the base rate for additional services or circumstances outside of standard pickup and delivery, including detention, fuel surcharge, liftgate, inside delivery, and residential delivery.
Rate Per Mile
Rate per mile (RPM) is the gross revenue a carrier earns per mile driven. It is calculated by dividing the total load rate by total miles (loaded + deadhead) and is the most common profitability metric in trucking.
IFTA (International Fuel Tax Agreement)
IFTA is a multi-jurisdictional fuel tax agreement between US states and Canadian provinces that simplifies the reporting and payment of fuel taxes for carriers operating in multiple jurisdictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is fuel surcharge calculated?
FSC = Line Haul Rate × Surcharge%. The % is based on current DOE national diesel price compared to a base price, using an increment table.