Fuel Surcharge Calculator
Calculate your fuel surcharge per mile, prefilled with the latest weekly DOE diesel price. Industry-standard formula used by major carriers.
Updated weekly with EIA data (published Tuesdays) • No signup required • 100% free
Fuel Surcharge Calculator
Per-mile industry formula
Enter Your Details
Use the published DOE value or enter your own dated contract price.
From your carrier contract (typically $1.10-$1.50)
Typical range: 5-7 mpg for loaded trucks
Enter trip distance to calculate total surcharge
Your Fuel Surcharge
Diesel prices sourced from U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). This calculator is for informational purposes only. Always verify calculations with your carrier contract.
Diesel price prefilled from the EIA Weekly Retail On-Highway Diesel Price (published Tuesdays ~10am ET) via our diesel price API. The calculator shows the date of the price it loaded — you can override it manually at any time.
Automate this — pull the diesel price into your TMS/ERP
GET /v1/prices/latest?by_code=DIESEL_RETAIL_USD → timestamped JSONNeed carrier surcharge percentages and the weekly EIA diesel index in your own system? See the Fuel Surcharge API →
Change monitoring pilot
Know when your fuel adjustment changes
For example: a weekly diesel index changes your customer’s surcharge.
Join the interest list and choose how you would want changes delivered. We’ll review your request and contact you about a pilot. Signing up does not activate alerts.
How to Calculate a Fuel Surcharge
The Formula
Surcharge per Mile = (Current Price - Baseline) ÷ MPG
This per-mile formula is one way to calculate a contractual surcharge and freight contracts.
Weekly Updates
Diesel prices are published by the DOE (EIA) every Tuesday around 10am ET.
Our calculator auto-updates with the latest national average retail price.
Regional Prices
Diesel prices vary by PADD region (East Coast, Midwest, Gulf Coast, etc.).
Get API access for regional price data.
Example Calculation
Example DOE Price: $3.60/gallon (not today's price)
Baseline Price: $1.20/gallon
Average MPG: 6 mpg
Surcharge = ($3.60 - $1.20) ÷ 6 = $0.40/mile
For a 500-mile haul, total fuel surcharge = $0.40 × 500 = $200.00
Illustrative FSC Formula Inputs
Contract baseline prices and MPG assumptions vary. These presets are examples, not published carrier schedules:
Example A
Illustrative contract inputs
Example B
Illustrative contract inputs
Example C
Illustrative contract inputs
Example D
Illustrative contract inputs
Example E
Illustrative contract inputs
Note: Carrier formulas may vary by contract. Always verify with your specific agreement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a fuel surcharge?
A fuel surcharge (FSC) is an additional fee added to freight rates to offset the cost of fuel. It adjusts based on current diesel prices, protecting both carriers and shippers from fuel price volatility.
How do you calculate a fuel surcharge?
Most trucking contracts use the per-mile method: fuel surcharge per mile = (DOE price − baseline) ÷ MPG, then multiply by the loaded miles. With a $3.60 DOE price, a $1.20 baseline and 6 MPG, that is $0.40 per mile, or $200 on a 500-mile haul. The DOE price is the EIA weekly U.S. on-highway diesel average for the week of the shipment. Some carriers use a percentage method instead: their published table maps each weekly DOE price to a percentage of the linehaul rate, and you multiply the linehaul by that percentage.
Where does the diesel price data come from?
We use the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Weekly Retail On-Highway Diesel Price. Check your contract for the required index, publication week and formula.
How often is the diesel price updated?
The EIA publishes new diesel prices normally Tuesday around 10:00 AM ET, or Wednesday in holiday weeks. This calculator prefills the most recent published national average and shows the date of that price.
What baseline price should I use?
The baseline depends on your carrier contract. Common baselines range from $1.10 to $1.50 per gallon. If you're an owner-operator, check your lease agreement or negotiate your own baseline.
Is the fuel surcharge required by law?
No. Fuel surcharges are not mandated by any federal law or regulation. They are a negotiated component of freight contracts between shippers and carriers.
Put this calculator on your own site
Run a trucking, freight, or logistics website? Our free WordPress plugin includes this fuel surcharge calculator as a ready-made widget — no coding or API key required.
Need Automated Fuel Surcharge Data?
Access weekly DOE/EIA diesel prices via API. Build custom calculators, integrate with your TMS, or automate invoice line items.
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