Accessorial Charges Calculator
Calculate freight accessorial charges including liftgate, inside delivery, appointment scheduling, and residential delivery fees for LTL shipments.
Fuel Surcharge Calculator
Calculate freight fuel surcharges indexed to DOE diesel prices. Estimate FSC as a percentage of base rate or per-mile add-on for trucking shipments.
$/gal
$/gal
ยข
%
%
$
Diesel above Thresholdโง
$3.00
$4.25 โ $1.25 per gallon
Fuel Surcharge %โง
45.0%
Base 15.0% + 30.0% steps
Fuel Surcharge $โง
$540.00
45.0% of $1,200.00
Total with FSCโง
$1,740.00
Base freight + fuel surcharge
FSC Share of Totalโง
31.0%
Surcharge as % of all-in cost
Effective Rate Multiplierโง
1.450ร
Multiply base freight by this
Cost Composition
Base 69%
FSC 31%
Diesel Price Sensitivity Table
| Diesel ($/gal) | FSC % | FSC $ | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3.75 | 40.0% | $480.00 | $1,680.00 |
| $4.00 | 42.5% | $510.00 | $1,710.00 |
| $4.25 | 45.0% | $540.00 | $1,740.00 |
| $4.50 | 47.5% | $570.00 | $1,770.00 |
| $4.75 | 50.0% | $600.00 | $1,800.00 |
| $5.00 | 52.5% | $630.00 | $1,830.00 |
| $5.25 | 55.0% | $660.00 | $1,860.00 |
DOE Diesel Reference Prices
| Period | Avg Diesel ($/gal) | Implied FSC % |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 Avg | $3.06 | 33.1% |
| 2020 Avg | $2.55 | 28.0% |
| 2021 Avg | $3.28 | 35.3% |
| 2022 Avg | $5.11 | 53.6% |
| 2023 Avg | $4.21 | 44.6% |
| 2024 Avg | $3.85 | 41.0% |
Planning notes, formulas, and examples
About the Fuel Surcharge Calculator
Fuel surcharges (FSC) are variable charges added to freight invoices to account for fluctuating diesel fuel prices. Carriers index their FSC tables to the DOE (Department of Energy) weekly national average diesel price, adjusting the surcharge percentage as fuel prices rise or fall.
For LTL carriers, fuel surcharge is typically expressed as a percentage of the discounted freight charge. For FTL carriers, it's often a per-mile add-on. The base fuel price (threshold) and percentage increments vary by carrier, making fuel surcharge comparison an important part of carrier negotiation.
This calculator helps you estimate the fuel surcharge component of your freight costs based on the current diesel price and your carrier's FSC table structure.
Use the result to compare operating scenarios, pressure-test assumptions, and rerun the model when volumes, rates, or service targets change.
When This Page Helps
Fuel surcharges can represent 20-35% of total freight cost. Understanding how they're calculated helps you budget accurately, compare carrier pricing structures fairly, and negotiate caps or alternative FSC structures that protect your bottom line.
How to Use the Inputs
- Enter the current DOE national average diesel price per gallon.
- Enter the carrier's base fuel threshold price.
- Enter the FSC increment (percentage points per cent increase in diesel).
- Enter your base freight charge.
- View the calculated fuel surcharge percentage and dollar amount.
- Compare against your invoice to verify carrier charges.
Formula used
FSC % = Base FSC % + ((Current Diesel รขหโ Threshold) / Increment) รโ Step %
Fuel Surcharge $ = Base Freight Charge รโ FSC %
Alternatively (per-mile method):
FSC per Mile = (Current Diesel รขหโ Threshold) รโ Gallons per MileExample Calculation
Result: Fuel Surcharge = $324.00 (27%)
With diesel at $4.25 and a threshold of $1.25, the excess is $3.00. At typical carrier FSC tables, this results in approximately 27% FSC. FSC = $1,200 รโ 0.27 = $324.
Tips & Best Practices
- Negotiate a fuel surcharge cap to limit your maximum FSC exposure.
- Compare FSC structures รขโฌโ lower base rates paired with high FSC can cost more than moderate base rates with low FSC.
- Monitor the DOE diesel price weekly at eia.gov to anticipate FSC changes.
- Request FSC transparency รขโฌโ some carriers embed fuel costs in base rates, making comparison difficult.
- Consider fuel-included pricing from carriers who bundle FSC into per-mile or per-CWT rates.
- Review FSC tables annually รขโฌโ carrier FSC formulas can change during contract renewals.
Fuel Surcharge Mechanics
Carrier FSC tables define a base threshold (the diesel price at which FSC starts at 0%) and increments that add percentage points as diesel rises above the threshold. For example, a carrier might start at 15% when diesel is at $1.25/gallon and add 0.5% for every $0.05 increase in diesel price. These tables can vary dramatically between carriers.
Impact on Total Freight Cost
Fuel surcharges have grown from a minor line item to a major cost component. At current diesel prices, FSC often represents 25-35% of the total LTL freight bill. This makes FSC structure a critical negotiation point รขโฌโ a 3% reduction in FSC percentage can save more than a 5% reduction in base rates for many shippers.
Alternative Fuel Pricing Models
Some carriers offer fuel-included pricing, where the fuel cost is bundled into the base rate. This simplifies invoicing and budgeting but reduces transparency into fuel cost components. Other carriers offer index-based models tied to specific fuel contracts rather than the DOE average.
Sources & Methodology
Last updated:
Frequently Asked Questions
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) publishes a weekly national average on-highway diesel fuel price every Monday. Most carriers use this index (often called the DOE diesel) as the reference point for their fuel surcharge tables.
Most carriers update fuel surcharges weekly, effective Monday based on the previous week's DOE diesel price. Some carriers update monthly or use a lagging average. Check your carrier contract for the specific update schedule.
FSC percentages vary with diesel prices. At $4.00-$4.50/gallon diesel, typical LTL fuel surcharges range from 25-35%. At $3.00-$3.50, they range from 18-25%. FTL surcharges are lower as a percentage but applied per mile.
Yes. You can negotiate the threshold price, the increment step, caps on maximum FSC, or switch to a fuel-included pricing model. High-volume shippers have more leverage to customize FSC terms.
For LTL, fuel surcharge is typically calculated on the discounted freight charge (after your negotiated discount is applied). This is standard practice, but verify with your carrier รขโฌโ some apply FSC to the undiscounted rate.
A cap sets the maximum fuel surcharge percentage regardless of how high diesel prices rise. For example, a 30% cap means your FSC never exceeds 30% even if the FSC table would calculate a higher amount.
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