Fuel Surcharge Calculator for Trucking
Estimate a formula-based fuel surcharge per loaded mile, compare it with a contract rate, and review the fuel cost behind the load.
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Fuel surcharge calculator
Compare a simple base-price fuel formula with an optional contract surcharge rate. Results update automatically.
Mileage, fuel, and contract assumptions
Fuel surcharge results
How the fuel surcharge estimate works
This calculator subtracts the base fuel price from the current fuel price, prevents the difference from falling below zero, and divides the result by the truck's MPG assumption.
Real contracts may use different formulas, fuel indexes, base prices, update schedules, regional averages, and MPG assumptions. A contract may also apply the surcharge to different mileage definitions.
This is a planning estimate, not a contract interpretation. Use the formula and definitions in the actual rate confirmation, tariff, lease, or shipper agreement when billing or settling a load.
Fuel surcharge formulas and worked example
Fuel price difference: maximum of current fuel price − base fuel price or zero.
Formula surcharge per mile: fuel price difference ÷ MPG.
Formula surcharge total: surcharge per mile × loaded miles.
Contract surcharge total: contract surcharge per mile × loaded miles.
Example: 1,000 loaded miles, a $1.20 base, $3.75 current diesel, and 6.5 MPG produce a $2.55 fuel-price difference and a formula estimate of about $0.3923 per mile, or $392.31 total. A $0.35 contract surcharge totals $350.00, which is $42.31 below the simple formula estimate.
Common assumptions and mistakes
- Wrong base price: use the base specified by the agreement, not a remembered industry average.
- Wrong fuel index: national, regional, weekly, and customer-specific indexes can produce different current prices.
- Loaded versus total miles: confirm which miles receive the surcharge before comparing totals.
- MPG mismatch: contract MPG may differ from the truck's real fuel economy.
- Fuel cost is not profit: a surcharge helps offset diesel-price movement but may not reimburse every gallon or operating expense.
Fuel surcharge FAQ
What is a base fuel price?
It is the diesel price assumed to be included in the underlying freight rate. A surcharge formula generally responds only to price above that base.
Why does MPG affect the surcharge?
MPG converts the per-gallon price increase into an estimated per-mile fuel increase. A lower MPG assumption produces a higher surcharge per mile.
What if current fuel is below the base price?
This planning formula returns zero rather than a negative surcharge. An actual agreement may handle decreases differently.
Should I use actual fuel cost or an index?
Use the index required by the agreement for contract calculations. The optional actual-price field here only compares estimated loaded-mile fuel cost.
Does the surcharge cover deadhead fuel?
Not necessarily. Many arrangements pay surcharge only on loaded or billed miles, so deadhead can remain an unrecovered fuel cost.
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