Fuel surcharge
A charge intended to adjust freight revenue when diesel prices move above a contract baseline.
Why It Matters
Fuel surcharge affects fuel-cost estimates used in freight pricing or route math. It is an estimate unless the contract defines the formula.
How It Shows Up
- Fuel surcharge may appear in freight contracts, calculators, rate confirmations or internal route costing sheets.
- It depends on an agreed formula, base price, current price source, MPG and mileage basis.
- Fuel card discounts and surcharges should be tracked separately.
Example
If a contract uses a $1.25 base fuel price, $4.00 current diesel price, 6 MPG and 500 loaded miles, the surcharge estimate is (($4.00 - $1.25) / 6) x 500, before any contract-specific rounding.
Common Mix-Up
A fuel surcharge is not the same as fuel card savings. One affects freight revenue, while the other affects fuel purchase cost.
What to Check
- Confirm the formula and data source used for fuel surcharge.
- Keep base price, current price, MPG and miles in the same units.
- Do not treat calculator output as a guaranteed reimbursement amount.
Questions to Ask
- Which diesel price index or posted price does the contract use?
- Is the formula based on loaded miles, total route miles or another mileage basis?
- How often is the surcharge recalculated?
Related Tools
Related Fuel Card Profiles
TCS Fuel Card
TCS describes a cash-secured fuel card for owner-operators, small trucking companies and fleets. Its public page states no activation, membership, monthly or annual fees, no transaction fees at in-network locations, an app, account tools and a broad accepted-location claim.
Mudflap
Mudflap is an app-based diesel discount program rather than a traditional fleet credit card. Public app listings describe choosing a truck stop in the app, connecting a debit or credit card and receiving a fuel savings code, with no credit check language in the app listing.
RoadFlex Fuel Card
RoadFlex positions its card around broad station acceptance, spend controls, reporting and fee transparency. Public pages reviewed state no transaction fees and no out-of-network fees for listed plans, but applicants should still confirm card pricing and qualification terms.