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Fuel Adjustment Surcharge Calculator

Work out fuel adjustment surcharge instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Fuel Adjustment Surcharge Calculator

A fuel surcharge applies the percentage movement in fuel price to only the fuel share of freight cost — typically 25-35% for road haulage. Applying the full fuel movement to the whole rate, as some tariffs do, substantially over-recovers.

Formulas

Fuel movement

Movement % = (Current fuel price / Base fuel price - 1) x 100

Surcharge

Surcharge = Base freight rate x Movement x Fuel share of cost %

Worked example

With the default values below, Fuel Adjustment Surcharge Calculator returns Fuel surcharge of $1,753.04. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Base freight rate
42,000
Base fuel price per litre
92
Current fuel price per litre
104
Fuel as % of total freight cost
32

Results

Fuel surcharge
$1,753.04
Surcharge as % of base rate
4.174%
Adjusted freight rate
$43,753.04
Fuel price movement
13.04%

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2Fuel movement
  3. 3Surcharge
  4. 4Fuel surcharge= 1,753.04
  5. 5Surcharge as % of base rate= 4.174
  6. 6Adjusted freight rate= 43,753.04
  7. 7Fuel price movement= 13.04

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
  • In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax or compounding frequency into account.
  • Figures are rounded for display to 3 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
  • Indicative estimate only. Fees, entitlements, limits and formulas vary by jurisdiction, statute, policy wording and the facts of the case. This is not legal, tax, insurance or financial advice — confirm with a qualified professional or the relevant authority.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Indicative estimate only. Fees, entitlements, limits and formulas vary by jurisdiction, statute, policy wording and the facts of the case. This is not legal, tax, insurance or financial advice — confirm with a qualified professional or the relevant authority.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fuel share is correct?

25-30% for long-haul road, 30-40% for short-haul with heavy stop-start driving, and higher still for air freight.

Should the surcharge work both ways?

Yes. A symmetric mechanism reduces the rate when fuel falls, which is what makes it a genuine pass-through rather than a price increase.

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