Rates
Fuel surcharge calculator.
Type in the current diesel price from your contract index, the base price the contract starts paying from, and your fleet mpg. See the surcharge per mile, the total for the load, and the percent method side by side.
With the index at $4.90 against a $3.75 base, the price is $1.15 over base. At 6 mpg that is a surcharge of $0.192 per mile, or $115.00 on a 600-mile load. The percent method (1% per $0.06) gives 19% of linehaul.
Your numbers
Result
Method and limits
Per-mile method: surcharge per mile = (current index price − base price) ÷ miles per gallon. Load surcharge = per-mile surcharge × loaded miles. If the index is at or below the base, this page shows zero.
Percent method: the number of whole price steps above base (price difference ÷ step, rounded down) × the percent per step, applied to the linehaul rate. Rounding rules vary by contract; this page rounds steps down.
Where the price comes from. A fuel surcharge schedule may be keyed to a published average diesel price such as the U.S. Energy Information Administration's weekly figure, which is released on a schedule and includes taxes. The index, the base, the mpg and the rounding are whatever your rate confirmation or broker agreement says. This page contains no current price and does not fetch one.
Everything is calculated in your browser.
Sources
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update (retrieved 2026-10-15): publishes U.S. and regional (PADD) retail on-highway diesel prices weekly, with prices that include all taxes. Look up the current figure there.
FAQ
How is a trucking fuel surcharge calculated?
One type of schedule subtracts a base price from the current index price and divides by the truck's miles per gallon to get a surcharge per mile. Others use a percent of linehaul for each price step. Your contract defines which one applies.
Where do I find the current diesel price for my surcharge?
Use whatever index your contract names. The U.S. Energy Information Administration publishes weekly retail diesel prices by region.
What if diesel falls below the base price?
This page returns zero. Some contracts allow a negative surcharge; check yours.
Is the fuel surcharge the same as my fuel cost?
No. It is a billing adjustment on the load. Your actual fuel cost is price paid divided by your own mpg.