Fuel surcharge calculator for trucking
The fuel surcharge per mile and per load when diesel costs more than the base price in your rates, from today’s price and your truck’s fuel economy.
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See your resultResult
Fuel surcharge per mile $0.39 Surcharge on this load $196.15500 miles As a share of linehaul 15.7% Load total with surcharge $1,446.15 Stop working this out by handFleetZap fuel logs record gallons, cost and odometer for every truck, so the mpg behind your surcharge comes from real fill-ups.
See FleetZap Dispatch · Try the demoThe formula
Fuel surcharge per mile = (Today’s fuel price − Base price) ÷ mpg
The surcharge passes on only the part of the fuel price above the base your rates already include. With the example: ($3.80 − $1.25) ÷ 6.5 mpg = $0.39 a mile, or $196 on a 500 mile load. Many shippers and carriers set the weekly price from the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s on-highway diesel average; use whatever your contract names.
Using the numberWhat to do with it
- Agree the base price, the mpg and the price source in writing, so the surcharge is never argued over.
- Update the surcharge on a fixed day each week, the same way every time.
- Better mpg lowers what fuel costs you, but with a per-mpg surcharge it also lowers what you can bill. Track your real mpg from fuel logs.
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Good to know
How do you calculate a fuel surcharge?Fuel surcharge per mile = (today's fuel price − base price) ÷ miles per gallon. At $3.80 diesel, a $1.25 base and 6.5 mpg, it's about $0.39 a mile.
What base price should I use?The fuel price your linehaul rates already assume, as agreed with the shipper. Put the base, the mpg and the weekly price source in the contract.
Where does the weekly diesel price come from?Many contracts use the U.S. Energy Information Administration's weekly on-highway diesel average, national or by region. Use the source your contract names.
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