The owner's workbench
Fuel surcharge calculator
A fuel surcharge passes part of a fuel price change to the customer. Start from your base price in the contract.
Surcharge per mile
Illustrative example. Replace the defaults with your contract's base price and your truck's numbers.
Your numbers
Your results
Surcharge per mile
$0.17
Exactly $0.1667
Surcharge for the load
$83.33
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Two ways to price fuel: use surcharge per mile when your contract sets a base fuel price, or the weekly fuel spend calculator below to turn a price change into a per-trip charge and a percent of revenue.
Weekly fuel spend surcharge
Illustrative example. Ridgeline Builders Co. is fictional. Enter your own fuel spend, prices and trips.
Your numbers
Your results
Gallons per week
180
Extra fuel cost per week
$477.00
Surcharge per trip
$11.92
Surcharge as % of revenue
1.24%
Extra cost per year
$24,799.00
EIA weekly on-highway diesel was $6.276 a gallon for the week of Oct 19, 2026; check eia.gov for the latest weekly price.
Writing a surcharge clause: tie it to a published index, state the trigger and the review date, and have your attorney review any contract language.
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Guide: Cost-plus pricing
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Estimates only. Results depend on your inputs.
Formulas
- Surcharge per mile = (current fuel price − base fuel price) ÷ miles per gallon
- Surcharge per load = surcharge per mile × loaded miles
Worked example
Illustrative example. Numbers are made up to show the math.
A base price of $3.50, a current price of $4.50 and 6 miles per gallon give $0.17 per mile (exactly $0.1667). A 500-mile load carries a surcharge of $83.33.
Contracts differ; some use a published index, step rules or a different base. Follow your agreement.
How to use it
- Enter weekly fuel spend and the old and current price per gallon.
- Enter trips or jobs per week and weekly revenue.
- Read the per-trip charge and percent surcharge; choose one for your quotes.
Questions owners ask
What base price should I use?
The base fuel price written in your contract or rate agreement. If there is none, agree one with the customer in writing before you add a surcharge.
Does the surcharge replace my rate?
No. The surcharge sits on top of your base rate and only covers the change in fuel price from the base.
What if prices fall below the base?
Most agreements drop the surcharge to $0.00 when fuel is at or below the base. Some reduce the rate instead. Follow what your agreement says.
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Sources
No external research cited. Calculations and illustrative assumptions are shown above; this is not evidence of a real owner outcome.
Educational content, not tax, legal or investment advice.
Updated
The Owner Track Letter
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