Fuel Surcharge Calculator
Per-mile surcharge from current diesel price, baseline, MPG, and trip miles — formula shown below.
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Current Diesel Price: Enter the current price per gallon. You can get the latest prices here.
Baseline Diesel Price: The baseline price ($1.92) is an industry standard reference point established to calculate fuel surcharges. When fuel prices rise above this baseline, carriers apply a surcharge to cover the increased cost. This baseline was historically set when fuel prices were more stable, and it serves as a consistent starting point for surcharge calculations.
Mileage: Enter the total mileage for the freight trip.
Fuel Efficiency: The standard fuel efficiency for heavy-duty trucks is 6.0 miles per gallon (MPG).
Example: With current diesel at $5.00/gallon and baseline at $1.92/gallon, the difference of $3.08 divided by 6.0 MPG results in a $0.513/mile surcharge.
U.S. average on-highway diesel (EIA), week of 2026-05-25
$5.52/gal
See the weekly fuel price history. The calculator above is pre-filled with this figure.
How the Fuel Surcharge Calculator works
A fuel surcharge covers the diesel cost above a fixed baseline, so a freight rate keeps pace with fuel without being renegotiated every week. The per-mile surcharge is:
(current diesel price − baseline) ÷ truck MPG, then × trip miles.
- Baseline: $1.92/gal — the long-standing industry reference point (editable if your contract differs).
- Truck fuel economy: 6.0 MPG for a loaded heavy-duty tractor-trailer.
Worked example: at today's $5.52/gal, the $3.60 above the $1.92 baseline divided by 6 MPG is about $0.600 per mile — roughly $600 of fuel surcharge on a 1,000-mile haul.
Fuel surcharge FAQs
What is a fuel surcharge in freight?
A fuel surcharge is an added charge that covers the cost of diesel above a fixed baseline price. When diesel rises above the baseline, carriers add a per-mile surcharge so the freight rate keeps pace with fuel costs instead of being renegotiated every week.
How is the per-mile fuel surcharge calculated?
Subtract the baseline diesel price from the current price, then divide by the truck's fuel economy (MPG). That gives the surcharge per mile. Multiply by the trip's miles for the total. Formula: ((current price − baseline) ÷ MPG) × miles.
Why is the baseline diesel price $1.92?
$1.92 per gallon is a long-standing industry reference point that surcharge schedules were historically built around. It's a fixed starting line, not the current price — when diesel sits above it, the difference drives the surcharge. You can change the baseline in the calculator if your contract uses a different one.
What truck fuel economy (MPG) should I use?
6.0 MPG is the standard assumption for a loaded heavy-duty tractor-trailer. Lighter vehicles get better mileage, so adjust the MPG field if you're estimating for a box truck or van.
Where does the current diesel price come from?
The current U.S. average on-highway diesel price is published weekly by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Freight Sidekick refreshes it automatically, so the calculator pre-fills the latest national average.
Is the Fuel Surcharge Calculator free?
Yes — it's free to use and requires no account.
Related freight tools
- Weekly U.S. Fuel Prices — the latest diesel and gasoline averages.
- State Mileage Breakdown — split a trip's miles by state.
- Shipping Time Calculator — estimate transit time for the lane.
- Get a freight quote — fuel and all, priced in one number.
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