Free owner-operator financial tool
Trucking Fuel Surcharge Calculator
Estimate a per-mile diesel price adjustment based on your contract assumptions. See how much you could invoice and what deadhead miles do to the fuel-price exposure.
Illustrative fuel clause
Estimated recovery
Negative net impact means the surcharge does not fully cover the price increase across all trip miles.
This model assumes the surcharge is zero below the base price and never negative. Some agreements use step tables, different prices, fuel percentage formulas or other floors; this calculator will not reproduce those contracts.
Method and limitations
How this scenario is calculated
Surcharge per billable mile = max(0, current diesel price − base diesel price) ÷ MPG × agreed adjustment percentage. Multiply that rate by the miles eligible for payment. Separately, compare the fuel-price change across all trip miles, including empty miles. The difference shows the remaining financial impact relative to the negotiated base price.
A positive net impact can reflect fuel savings when prices fall; it is not automatically profit. This is a fuel-price comparison only and excludes non-fuel expenses, actual tax treatment, contracted index timing, and any pricing terms that differ from this formula.
For weekly on-highway diesel prices, consult the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Select the price series and week specified by your agreement. Do not assume the most recent national average applies to your invoice.