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Shipping terms

What is a fuel surcharge?

A fuel surcharge is an extra charge carriers add to LTL and FTL freight quotes to cover diesel cost. It usually appears as its own line next to linehaul, not buried inside a single total. Parcel Management Group is a registered freight broker (USDOT 3266041 · MC 1030328) in Ventura, CA 93001. Call (805) 984-4114.

Why carriers add a fuel surcharge

Diesel price moves week to week. Many carriers publish a fuel surcharge schedule that tracks a public diesel index so the base linehaul rate stays steadier while fuel cost moves on its own line. The index is a published price series, not a number your broker invents for one lane.

Exact formulas differ by carrier. One carrier may tie its schedule to a national diesel index. Another may use a regional series or a different effective date. Ask which index and which effective date apply to your ship date. Do not treat one carrier's schedule as the rule for every carrier on the lane.

How it shows on a quote

Look for a separate fuel line under accessorials or labeled FSC. The total payable is linehaul plus fuel plus other accessorials. If the quote shows one number only, ask for the split before you approve it. A single total can hide a fuel line that will change when the pickup date moves.

See accessorial charges and how freight quoting works. Compare carriers on the total, not on the linehaul cell alone, because their fuel lines can differ on the same pickup date. Request a full quote when you want linehaul, fuel, and the other lines written out: LTL freight quote.

Fuel surcharge vs other accessorials

Fuel tracks energy cost. A liftgate, a residential stop, and lumper labor are dock or stop services. They do not move just because a diesel index moved. A lumper fee pays the warehouse crew that loads or unloads. Keep fuel on its own line so a dock fee is not read as a fuel change, and a fuel change is not read as a new stop service.

What to ask before you book

Ask these questions before you approve the rate.

  1. Whether the quote is all-in or linehaul-only.
  2. The fuel line amount for that day.
  3. Whether fuel will reprice if the ship date moves.
  4. Other accessorials at origin and delivery.

An all-in quote already includes fuel for the dates on the quote. A linehaul-only quote does not, so the fuel line still has to be added before you know the total. The fuel line amount is for that quote date. If pickup slides into a later schedule period, ask whether the line changes. Origin and delivery accessorials, such as a liftgate, a residential stop, an appointment, or inside delivery, sit beside fuel. They are not inside the fuel line.

How PMG helps

PMG quotes LTL and FTL with fuel and accessorials broken out so the total is clear before booking. You can see the fuel line, the base rate, and the stop charges as separate items and ask about any line before the truck is set. Quote path: /ltl-freight-quote/ · /services/.

Call (805) 984-4114 or start a chat at /#contact.

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FAQ

Fuel surcharge FAQ

What is a fuel surcharge in trucking?

A fuel surcharge is an extra line on LTL and FTL quotes that usually moves with published diesel price indexes. Parcel Management Group is a registered broker in Ventura, CA 93001. Call (805) 984-4114.

Is a fuel surcharge part of linehaul?

Often it is billed as a separate line so you can see fuel apart from the base rate. Ask if a quoted total is all-in.

Do fuel surcharges change every week?

Many carriers update their fuel schedules when diesel indexes move. Confirm the fuel line for your ship date.

How do I see fuel on an LTL quote?

Ask for a quote that lists linehaul, fuel, and other accessorials as separate lines. Start at /ltl-freight-quote/.