Fuel Surcharge Calculator
Price, base, MPG, miles — the same formula brokers use to calculate what they owe you. The diesel price below is this week's real U.S. average, not a stale number from last quarter.
How this is calculated
surcharge per mile = (current price − base price) ÷ MPG
When the current price is at or below your base price, the surcharge is zero — it never goes negative.
Price source: EIA Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update, published every Tuesday.
FAQ
What is a fuel surcharge?
A fuel surcharge compensates you, the carrier, when diesel prices rise above the base price written into your contract or rate confirmation. It's calculated as (current price − base price) ÷ MPG, then multiplied by loaded miles — isolating just the extra fuel cost caused by price increases, on top of your linehaul rate.
What base price should I use?
$1.20 per gallon is the traditional industry baseline used in many broker and shipper fuel tables, and it's the default here. But the only number that actually matters is whatever base price is written into your contract or rate confirmation — always use that instead if it differs.
What MPG divisor is standard?
Most broker and shipper fuel surcharge schedules use an MPG assumption somewhere between 5.5 and 6.5, with 6.0 being the most common default. The lower the MPG assumption, the higher the surcharge — so check which number your contract specifies.
Is a fuel surcharge required by law?
No. There's no federal mandate requiring brokers or shippers to pay a fuel surcharge — it's entirely a matter of contract. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) has long pushed for standardized, mandatory fuel surcharge rules, but today it remains negotiable, not required.
Related tools
Weekly fuel surcharge chart · Trip fuel cost · Cost per mile
Data updated: 2026-07-06 · Source: EIA weekly diesel