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.
Fuel surcharge FAQ
How is a trucking fuel surcharge calculated?
The standard formula: (current diesel price − the contract's base fuel price) ÷ the truck's MPG = surcharge per mile. Example: diesel at $3.90, a $1.20 base, 6 MPG → ($3.90 − $1.20) ÷ 6 = $0.45 per mile. This calculator runs that math against this week's average diesel price.
What should the fuel surcharge be today?
It depends on the base price in your contract and this week's diesel average — there is no single national FSC. Enter your base and MPG above and the calculator shows the per-mile figure at current prices.
Is a fuel surcharge required by law?
No. Federal law doesn't mandate fuel surcharges — they're a contract term between you and the broker or shipper. That's why knowing the standard math matters: it's the number the negotiation starts from.
What is OverTheRoad.AI?
OverTheRoad.AI is an AI back office for owner-operators and small fleets. You scan your paperwork — rate confirmations, settlements, fuel receipts, compliance documents — and it turns them into your books: invoices you can send and track, expenses, IFTA miles by state, tax-ready deduction reports, and renewal reminders, all built from your own documents. The free tools on this site work without an account; the full app has a 30-day free trial with no card required.
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60-second tour — a caught shortpay, a slow broker, your weekly numbers. No signup.
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See implied FSC on every load you run
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