Some please explain Fuel Surcharge

Discussion in 'Questions To Truckers From The General Public' started by slingblade07, Sep 6, 2008.

  1. slingblade07

    slingblade07 Light Load Member

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    Sep 3, 2008
    Commerce, GA
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    I see it all over but dont understand how it works, all I know is it is some amount given to drivers to offset fuel cost. But wondering how much is it say diesel is 4.25 a gallon, do you get all that credited or a percentage or????
     
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  3. Lilbit

    Lilbit Road Train Member

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    Someone else can correct me on this if I got it wrong, but the way fuel surcharge is figured is to take the current average fuel price, subtract the base rate of 1.35 from that. Then you calculate 1 cent per every 5 cents of the price difference, and that is your fuel surcharge. So with your 4.25 per gallon, the fuel surcharge would be .58 per mile. 4.25 - 1.35 = 2.90 / 5 = .58.

    That fuel surcharge is multiplied by the number of miles for the load you are hauling, and added to the invoice along with the base rate for the load, and any extras such as detention pay, etc.

    If you are working with a broker, make sure your broker doesn't apply their commission to the fuel surcharge. There are some that will take a percentage of it, and some that won't pass it on at all. Check a broker out as much as they will be checking you out. They will be checking your authority, insurance, and safety record. If you are leased to a company, they will have their own fuel surcharge policy in place.

    If I got any of this wrong, I hope someone else will correct me. I'm working off information I have found elsewhere on the forum, and I think I am remembering it correctly. I have made it a point to learn about this topic, as I plan to become a freight broker.
     
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  4. searay

    searay Light Load Member

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    Sep 1, 2008
    Marietta, Ga.
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    Your correct. Just watch out for the Brokers they love to take a cut of it. Thats the formula I use, I been charging a Fuel Surcharge ever since the prices went up.
     
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  5. slingblade07

    slingblade07 Light Load Member

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    Commerce, GA
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    So the way I figure it if you get 6 mpg and fuel is 4.25 thats .708 cpm, and you get a surcharge of .58 the true out of pocket expense for fuel is only .128 cpm? Not to bad.
     
  6. RickG

    RickG Road Train Member

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    The problem is with FSC added to invoice many carriers don't pay FSC on deadhead miles . Hotshotters with medium duty or 1 ton trucks have an advantage on LTL loads . They get better mpg and offer a lower FSC .
     
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  7. slopoke1966

    slopoke1966 Bobtail Member

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    Sep 11, 2008
    Cleveland,Tn.
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    Are you owner operator or company driver? Threre's a national avg. thats used and O/O get all or some of the fuel surcharge.Does not apply to company drivers.
     
  8. slingblade07

    slingblade07 Light Load Member

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    Sep 3, 2008
    Commerce, GA
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    Nope no o/o here just was curious is all
     
  9. Rosco0818

    Rosco0818 Bobtail Member

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    Mar 22, 2009
    Thunder Bay,ON Canada
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    Hi, I am new to this forum and am looking into buying a truck. The company I am looking into working for has a fleet fuel price and fuel surcharge, but I'm not exactly sure how this works, but am sure this will make a big difference in figuring out if the numbers at the end of the month will make buying a truck worth my time and effort. Can anyone explain how fuel surcharge works and how I can calculate it into pay per mile? any help would be appreciated.
     
  10. RickG

    RickG Road Train Member

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  11. Rosco0818

    Rosco0818 Bobtail Member

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    Mar 22, 2009
    Thunder Bay,ON Canada
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    With that chart would I use the current fuel price for the base price ?
     
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