Fuel surcharge billings vs. the diesel to move them
Compare the fuel surcharge billed on a trailerload of packages with the diesel for one linehaul move, plus other operating costs you choose to include.
Results
- This is not carrier profit or proof of overcharging. A parcel moves through pickup, several sorts, linehaul legs and delivery, each with its own fuel and costs.
- It shows how the surcharge, a percentage of the price, can diverge from the fuel used on any single movement.
How this is calculated
Surcharge = packages × revenue per package × fuel %. Diesel = miles ÷ MPG × price.
Rates shown as defaults come from carrier publications or each carrier’s published table applied to the EIA price; see the methodology. Estimates and examples are labeled. Results are illustrative and do not represent any carrier’s reported financial results.
Questions
Why compare to one trailer move?
It is the most visible fuel cost in the network and easy to measure. The comparison is illustrative, not an estimate of carrier margins.
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