Rate Adjustment
Fuel Surcharge Calculator
Calculate fuel surcharges using the DOE national average method. See your surcharge per mile, total surcharge, and adjusted rate for any load.
Inputs
Enter your contract base fuel price and current conditions.
Current DOE Average
$3.89/gal
As of March 24, 2026
Results
Fuel Surcharge Calculation
Surcharge per mile
$0.448
Total surcharge
$291.42
Adjusted rate / mile
$2.70
Surcharge as % of base rate
19.9%
Base revenue
$1,463
Adjusted revenue
$1,754
Formula
How Fuel Surcharges Work
Surcharge/mi = (Current Price − Base Price) ÷ MPG
= ($3.89 − $1.20) ÷ 6
= $2.69 ÷ 6
= $0.448/mi
Base fuel price — the threshold price set in your contract. The industry standard is $1.20/gallon, but some contracts use $1.10 or a custom figure. No surcharge applies when fuel is at or below this price.
Standard MPG — most surcharge schedules assume 6 MPG regardless of your actual fuel economy. This is the DOE/industry standard divisor.
Current fuel price — typically the DOE weekly national average retail diesel price, published every Monday. Some contracts use regional averages instead.
Quick Reference
Surcharge at Different Fuel Prices
Based on your 650 mile load at $2.25/mi base rate.
| Diesel Price | Surcharge/mi | Total Surcharge | Adjusted Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3.00 | $0.300 | $195.00 | $2.55 |
| $3.50 | $0.383 | $249.17 | $2.63 |
| $4.00 | $0.467 | $303.33 | $2.72 |
| $4.50 | $0.550 | $357.50 | $2.80 |
| $5.00 | $0.633 | $411.67 | $2.88 |