Fuel surcharge calculator
Enter the current diesel index price and the program's base price and MPG. You get the fuel surcharge per mile, for the whole load, and as a percent of linehaul.
Updated October 2026 · Free, no signup
Fuel surcharge
EXAMPLE- FSC per mile
- $0.83
- FSC on this load
- $664.00
- As % of linehaul
- 41.5%
- All-in rate per mile
- $2.83
- Unrounded per mile
- $0.8250
Spot loads are often quoted all-in, with fuel already inside the rate. When a rate con lists linehaul and FSC separately, check both against your own fuel cost per mile.
At $0.83 a mile, fuel surcharge is 42% of this linehaul. Our dispatchers read the whole rate con, FSC included, before an offer reaches you.
Get load offersHow it's calculated
| Number | Formula |
|---|---|
| FSC per mile | (Current index price - base price) / MPG divisor, never below $0 |
| Rounded | To the cent, as most programs publish |
| FSC on the load | FSC per mile x loaded miles |
| Percent of linehaul | FSC per mile / linehaul rate per mile |
| All-in rate | Linehaul + FSC per mile |
The current price is your input, usually the weekly on-highway diesel price from the U.S. Energy Information Administration that most programs reference.
Source: U.S. EIA, Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update · checked 2026-10
Worked example
| EXAMPLE program and load | |
|---|---|
| Diesel index this week (about the EIA U.S. average, early October 2026) | $6.20/gal |
| Program base price | $1.25/gal |
| Program MPG divisor | 6.0 |
| FSC per mile | $0.825 |
| Loaded miles | 800 |
| FSC on the load | $660 |
| Linehaul | $2.00/mi |
| FSC as % of linehaul | 41.3% |
| All-in | $2.83/mi |
The program numbers are EXAMPLES. A different base price or divisor changes the answer a lot, so always use the program document.
Compare the surcharge with your real fuel cost
If your truck gets 6.5 mpg at $6.20, your fuel costs about $0.95 a mile in total. A $0.825 surcharge covers only the part above the program's base; the rest has to come out of linehaul. Run your own number in the trip fuel cost calculator and compare.
FSC across equipment types
Reefer unit fuel usually isn't covered by a per-mile surcharge, since the unit burns by the hour; price it into the rate. Dump trucks paid by the hour or ton rarely see a separate surcharge at all, so fuel swings land on the owner unless the contract adjusts. Flatbed, step deck and oversize contract freight often follow the same per-mile formula as van.
When fuel moves during the week
Most programs reset weekly on the published index. A load booked Monday at one surcharge can deliver after the index changes; the program says which price applies, usually the week of pickup or of the tender. When the rate con lists FSC separately, check that it matches the program in effect.
Questions about this calculator
How is fuel surcharge calculated?
The most common method: (current diesel price - the program's base price) / the program's MPG divisor = fuel surcharge per mile. EXAMPLE: ($6.20 - $1.25) / 6 = $0.83 a mile. Multiply by loaded miles for the load. Each shipper or broker sets its own base price and divisor.
What diesel price do fuel surcharge programs use?
Most reference the U.S. Energy Information Administration's weekly on-highway diesel price, national or regional, updated each Monday. The program document says which index and which day's price applies.
Is fuel surcharge included in spot rates?
Often. Many spot loads are quoted as one all-in rate with fuel built in. Contract freight more often pays linehaul plus a separate FSC that moves with the diesel index. Read the rate con to see which you have.
Does the fuel surcharge cover my fuel cost?
It covers fuel above the program's base price, not all of your fuel. The base price is built into the linehaul. If your truck gets worse mileage than the program's divisor, the surcharge covers less of your real cost.
Do dispatch fees apply to fuel surcharge?
Ask each dispatcher. Ours is charged on the total the broker pays for the load, which includes a fuel surcharge when one is paid.
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