Live DOE weekly diesel prices pulled directly from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. See current fuel surcharge rates for all major LTL carriers — updated every Monday.
Live DOE diesel prices · Major LTL carrier FSC rates
Override with a custom price to model budget scenarios or check your contract rate.
Enter your base freight rate to see estimated total per carrier including FSC
Approximate rates across key price points — useful for budget planning
| DOE Price | FXFE | ODFL | XPOL | EXLA | SAIA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2.50 | 14.0% | 13.4% | 13.0% | 12.5% | 12.4% |
| $2.75 | 16.5% | 15.8% | 15.5% | 14.8% | 14.8% |
| $3.00 | 19.0% | 18.1% | 18.5% | 17.0% | 17.6% |
| $3.25 | 21.5% | 20.5% | 21.0% | 19.3% | 20.0% |
| $3.50 | 24.0% | 22.9% | 23.5% | 21.5% | 22.4% |
| $3.75 | 26.5% | 25.3% | 26.0% | 23.8% | 24.8% |
| $4.00← NOW | 29.0% | 27.6% | 28.5% | 26.0% | 27.1% |
| $4.25 | 31.5% | 30.0% | 31.0% | 28.3% | 29.5% |
| $4.50 | 34.0% | 32.4% | 33.5% | 30.5% | 31.9% |
| $4.75 | 36.5% | 34.8% | 36.0% | 32.8% | 34.3% |
| $5.00 | 39.0% | 37.1% | 38.5% | 35.0% | 36.6% |
Get notified when diesel prices move more than $0.15/gal
Each carrier publishes their own fuel surcharge table. While all reference the Monday DOE price, rate increments and starting thresholds differ — meaning ODFL and FedEx can be 2–3% apart at the same diesel price.
The DOE publishes national average diesel prices every Monday morning. Carriers typically update their FSC tables to take effect the following Monday, giving shippers roughly a week of visibility before rates change.
High-volume shippers regularly negotiate maximum fuel surcharge caps in carrier contracts — commonly 20–25%. This limits exposure when diesel spikes and makes freight budgeting more predictable.
Each carrier calculates their fuel surcharge differently. This table compares how major LTL carriers price their FSC at the current diesel price level. Use this to compare total freight cost — not just base rates — when selecting a carrier.
| Carrier | Base Trigger Price | Per-Step Increment | Current FSC % (at ~$3.89/gal) | Update Cycle | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FedEx Freight | $1.25/gal | +0.50% per $0.05 | ~26.0% | Monday (next week) | Highest base trigger price among majors |
| Old Dominion (ODFL) | $1.25/gal | +0.475% per $0.05 | ~25.1% | Monday (next week) | Generally competitive FSC |
| XPO Logistics | $1.20/gal | +0.50% per $0.05 | ~26.9% | Monday (next week) | Lower trigger = higher FSC at same diesel |
| Estes Express | $1.21/gal | +0.45% per $0.05 | ~24.1% | Monday (next week) | Lowest FSC among top carriers |
| SAIA | $1.25/gal | +0.50% per $0.05 | ~26.0% | Monday (next week) | Matches FedEx structure closely |
| ABF Freight | $1.25/gal | +0.475% per $0.05 | ~25.1% | Monday (next week) | Union carrier, stable pricing |
| Southeastern Freight | $1.30/gal | +0.50% per $0.05 | ~25.9% | Monday (next week) | Regional, Southeast-focused |
| R+L Carriers | $1.25/gal | +0.50% per $0.05 | ~26.0% | Monday (next week) | Broad LTL coverage |
The spread between the lowest carrier FSC (Estes at ~24.1%) and the highest (XPO at ~26.9%) is nearly 3 percentage points. On a $1,000 base freight charge, that's a $28 difference per shipment from FSC alone. Always compare total cost (base + FSC + accessorials), not just the base rate.
Common questions about fuel surcharges and LTL carrier rates
An LTL fuel surcharge (FSC) is a percentage added to the base linehaul rate to offset carrier fuel costs. It is not a fixed cost — it fluctuates weekly based on the DOE national average on-highway diesel price. At $3.89/gallon diesel, most major LTL carriers charge between 22% and 28% FSC on top of the base freight rate.
Each carrier uses a proprietary stepped table that references the DOE weekly diesel price. A carrier might charge 1.5% FSC at $1.25/gallon diesel, then add 0.475% for every $0.05 increase above that trigger price. For example, at $3.89/gallon, a carrier with that formula would charge approximately 26.5% FSC. The DOE price is published Monday; the new FSC rate typically takes effect the following Monday.
This calculator uses live data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Weekly Retail On-Highway Diesel Prices survey (Series EIA-0002). The EIA surveys approximately 900 retail outlets weekly and publishes national and regional averages every Monday at noon ET. The national average is what most LTL carriers reference for fuel surcharge calculation.
Yes — most LTL carriers will negotiate fuel surcharge caps in annual contracts. A typical negotiated cap is 20%–25% of linehaul. This means even if diesel prices spike to $5.00+/gallon (pushing the uncapped FSC to 35%+), you pay the capped rate. For shippers with $500,000+ annual LTL spend, FSC cap negotiation is one of the highest-ROI contract negotiations available.
At a 25% FSC rate on a $500 base freight charge, the surcharge adds $125, bringing the total to $625. At 30%, the surcharge is $150 on a $500 base. For high-volume shippers spending $100,000/month on LTL base freight, each 1% increase in FSC costs $1,000/month — or $12,000/year.
No. Each major carrier maintains its own FSC table, which differs in the trigger price (where the FSC first applies), the per-step increment, and any cap. As of March 2026, FSC rates among major carriers at the same diesel price can vary by 3–6 percentage points. This is why comparing total cost (base rate + FSC) rather than base rate alone is critical when selecting a carrier.