Shipping economics
Fuel Surcharge Calculator
Carriers index fuel surcharges to the DOE weekly diesel price. Your contract specifies a benchmark price and a cents-per-mile or percentage schedule — this computes the surcharge either way.
Reviewed by BoringToolsKit · September 1, 2026 · Example rates, editable — not carrier quotes.
How the estimate works
Percentage method: surcharge = base freight × surcharge %. Cents-per-mile method (truckload): surcharge = (current DOE price − benchmark) ÷ benchmark MPG × miles. Both are modeled.
Calculator
Fuel surcharge
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Rate tables below are editable example defaults for modeling, not carrier quotes. Actual prices vary by negotiated rates, surcharges, and season. Confirm final cost with the carrier before shipping.
Formula and assumptions
Percentage method: base × surcharge %. Cents-per-mile: (current DOE $/gal − benchmark) ÷ truck MPG = $/mile, × miles. The DOE diesel index publishes weekly (Monday, effective the following week). Contracts define the benchmark price and schedule — read yours.
Fuel Surcharge Calculator questions
How is a fuel surcharge calculated?
Two ways: a percentage of the base freight, or cents-per-mile from the DOE diesel index spread over truck MPG. Truckload uses CPM; LTL and parcel mostly use percentages.
Where does the DOE diesel price come from?
The US Energy Information Administration publishes the weekly retail diesel price every Monday. Contracts peg the surcharge schedule to it, often with a lag week.
Why did my fuel surcharge go up when diesel fell?
Contracts often use a lagged index, floor prices, or quarterly averages. Check which benchmark week your carrier's schedule references.