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Fuel Surcharge Calculator for Owner Operators

Work out your fuel surcharge by DOE steps, by MPG, flat cents per mile, or percent of linehaul. See if it covers the fuel you burn.

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FSC Method

Each time the diesel price rises one price step above the base price, your schedule adds a set amount per mile. Copy the base, step and amount from your rate confirmation.

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Does it cover your fuel?

Optional. Compares the surcharge with the extra fuel your truck burns because diesel is above the base price.

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View Current EIA Diesel Prices

Select a method and click Calculate FSC

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How is a fuel surcharge (FSC) calculated?

The most common method, the DOE method, ties the surcharge to the U.S. Department of Energy's weekly average diesel price. Each time the DOE price rises a set step above an agreed base price, the surcharge goes up by an agreed amount per mile. The step is usually 6 cents. Some contracts divide the price above the base by the miles per gallon the schedule assumes instead of using steps. Others use a flat cents-per-mile surcharge or a flat percentage of the linehaul rate.

  1. DOE method: price increment = floor((current DOE price - base price) / $0.06). Surcharge per mile = increment x the agreed cents-per-mile step (never below $0).
  2. MPG method: surcharge per mile = (current diesel price - base price) / the miles per gallon the schedule assumes. There are no steps.
  3. A 6-cent step that adds 1 cent a mile assumes 6 miles per gallon. A truck that gets more than that burns less extra fuel than the surcharge pays, and a truck that gets less falls behind.
  4. Flat-CPM method: the surcharge is a fixed cents-per-mile figure. It does not depend on the current fuel price.
  5. Percentage method: the surcharge is a flat percentage of the linehaul rate.

Your contract or rate confirmation sets the base price, the size of each increment and the cents-per-mile step. There is no single national standard, and no federal rule sets the amount. So use the numbers your agreement actually states. EIA collects diesel prices every Monday and publishes them on Tuesday, or Wednesday after a federal holiday, so check which week's price your schedule uses and whether it is the U.S. average or a regional price.

Last reviewed October 2026. Sources: U.S. EIA: weekly retail on-highway diesel prices; U.S. EIA: how the weekly diesel prices are collected and published; eCFR: 49 CFR 376.12, lease requirements, paragraph (e) on fuel costs.

Frequently Asked Questions - Fuel Surcharge Calculator

What is a fuel surcharge?
A fuel surcharge (FSC) is an additional charge, separate from the linehaul rate, meant to offset changing diesel prices for the carrier. It's commonly tied to the U.S. Department of Energy's published weekly average diesel price rather than negotiated fresh on every load.
How is a fuel surcharge calculated?
The most common method ties the surcharge to the DOE's weekly average diesel price: for every fixed increment the price rises above an agreed base price (commonly 6 cents), the surcharge increases by an agreed cents-per-mile step. Some contracts instead use a flat cents-per-mile surcharge or a flat percentage of the linehaul rate that doesn't move with the DOE price at all. Check which method your contract actually uses before assuming the DOE formula applies.
Is the fuel surcharge included in my rate, or separate?
It depends on the contract. Some rate confirmations are quoted 'all-in' with the surcharge already folded into the number; others show linehaul and FSC as two separate line items. Always ask which one you're being quoted before you accept a load, since the same headline rate can mean a different real payout depending on the answer.
Does the fuel surcharge cover all of my fuel cost increase?
Not necessarily, and it depends entirely on your contract's base price and step size relative to what you're actually paying at the pump. If diesel in your area runs above the index your surcharge is based on, or your truck's real MPG is lower than the formula assumes, the surcharge can fall short of your actual increased cost.
What is a fuel surcharge schedule?
A fuel surcharge schedule (or chart) is a table in a contract or rate confirmation that ties the surcharge amount to a published diesel price, stepping up as the price rises above an agreed base. Ask for this schedule in writing before accepting contract freight, so you know exactly how your surcharge will move with fuel prices.
How do I calculate a fuel surcharge per mile?
Subtract your contract's base price from the current diesel price. For the step method, divide by the price step (commonly 6 cents), drop any leftover, and multiply by what your schedule adds per step. With diesel at $3.00, a $1.20 base, a 6-cent step and 1 cent per step, that is $1.80 / $0.06 = 30 steps, times $0.01 = $0.30 a mile. For the MPG method, divide the difference by the miles per gallon the schedule assumes: $1.80 / 6 = $0.30. Your contract sets the base, the step and the amount.
What does a 6-cent step at 1 cent a mile assume?
It assumes 6 miles per gallon. Six cents of extra fuel cost per gallon, spread over 6 miles, is 1 cent a mile. A truck that gets better than 6 MPG burns less extra fuel than the surcharge pays. A truck that gets less than 6 MPG falls behind. Enter your own MPG in the calculator to see which side you are on.
Which diesel price does my fuel surcharge use?
It depends on the schedule. Most use EIA's weekly U.S. average, and some use a regional price. EIA collects prices on Monday and publishes them on Tuesday, or Wednesday after a federal holiday. The schedule should say which week's price counts, such as the week of pickup or the week before. Ask for that in writing.
Is a fuel surcharge regulated?
No federal rule sets the amount of a fuel surcharge. Your rate confirmation or contract does. If you are an owner-operator leased to a carrier, the lease must say who pays for fuel (49 CFR 376.12(e)). Ask in writing how much of the surcharge you receive.
Do I get a fuel surcharge on empty miles?
Usually a surcharge is paid on the loaded miles of the load, not on the empty miles to the pickup, though terms vary. Check your rate confirmation. The calculator lets you add empty miles to see how much extra fuel the whole trip burns compared with the surcharge.

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