How Do Shipping Carriers Calculate Fuel Surcharges?

Fuel surcharges are extra fees carriers charge to adjust for fluctuating fuel prices. These costs are added on top of the base shipping rate.

How Carriers Calculate Fuel Surcharges:

• Fuel Index-Based Pricing – Rates change weekly based on the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) fuel index.
• Flat-Rate Fuel Charges – Some regional carriers use a fixed percentage surcharge.
• Variable Pricing by Zone – Long-distance shipping incurs higher fuel surcharges.

How FirstMile Helps Reduce Fuel Surcharges:

💰 Optimized Carrier Selection – Chooses lower surcharge carriers

📦 Zone-Skipping & Consolidation – Reduces long-haul fuel costs

🚀 Xparcel Dynamic Routing – Adjusts routes based on fuel cost fluctuations