Free tools · Fuel surcharge
What should fuel surcharge be?
The classic per-mile formula: (current diesel − base) ÷ MPG. Live U.S. diesel is filled in for you — change the base and MPG to match your contract.
Free fuel surcharge calculator
What should your fuel surcharge be today?
The classic per-mile formula: (current diesel − base) ÷ MPG. Live diesel pulled in by region.
Fuel surcharge at these inputs
$0.000/mi
($0.00 − $1.20) ÷ 6.5 MPG = $0.000/mi
See the implied FSC on every load you log.
OverTheRoad pulls current diesel, your truck MPG, and your base rate and computes the implied fuel surcharge on every load — side by side with what the broker actually paid.
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Inside, FSC shows up on every load — auto-calculated.
- Current diesel, your MPG, and your base — pulled in on every load
- See implied FSC side by side with what the broker actually paid
- Track lanes and brokers; get alerts when diesel or rates move
- Plus broker tracking, lane tracking, and your real margin on every haul
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How fuel surcharge works
A fuel surcharge (FSC) is an extra per-mile payment carriers and brokers agree to so diesel cost swings don't eat the rate. When diesel is above the contract base, the FSC compensates the carrier for the difference; when diesel is below base, the FSC is zero.
The per-mile formula above is the most common one. Some contracts use step tables instead (FSC moves up $0.01/mi for every $0.06/gal diesel rises above the base, capped at a ceiling). The math here uses the formula approach because that's what most owner-operator contracts reference.
- Current diesel — pulled live from the U.S. Energy Information Administration's weekly retail diesel survey. National average; switch to your origin region for a tighter read.
- Base diesel — whatever your contract says. $1.20/gal is the most common; some contracts use $1.25 or $1.50.
- MPG — your truck's real-world mileage. Reefer trucks run 5.8 to 6.2; dry van and flatbed typically 6.5 to 7.0.
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See implied FSC on every load you run
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