The fuel surcharge (FSC) is one of the most misunderstood line items on a freight invoice. Here's exactly how it's calculated and how to minimize its impact on your freight budget.
A fuel surcharge is a variable fee added to freight rates to offset the carrier's diesel fuel costs. It adjusts weekly or monthly based on the national average diesel price published by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). When diesel goes up, the FSC goes up.
Most carriers use a per-mile fuel surcharge tied to the EIA average. A carrier might charge $0.45/mile when diesel is at $3.50/gallon and $0.65/mile when diesel hits $4.50/gallon. On LTL, FSC is typically expressed as a percentage of the base rate — commonly 15–30%.
Lock in contract rates with FSC caps when the market is soft. Use annual contracts with clear FSC formulas rather than open-ended surcharge pass-throughs. For consistent lanes, negotiate all-in pricing that includes FSC rather than base-plus-FSC pricing.
IZY Logistics provides all-in pricing on quotes, with fuel surcharge clearly itemized. We use published EIA rates for FSC calculations — no proprietary tables or inflated surcharges.
IZY Logistics is a licensed freight broker (MC #1615290) serving shippers across the United States. Get a competitive quote in under 30 seconds.
Get a Free Quote →Fuel surcharge shipping typically requires specific equipment, handling, or compliance steps that standard dry van freight doesn't need.
Yes. IZY Logistics brokers fuel surcharge freight nationwide and can match the shipment with a carrier experienced in this freight type.
Request a quote with your shipment details — origin, destination, weight, and any special handling requirements — and IZY Logistics will match it to the right equipment and carrier.
Confirm the carrier has the right equipment and experience for fuel surcharge freight specifically, along with proper insurance coverage for the commodity.
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