The short answer

The government publishes diesel prices; it does not publish one mandatory freight fuel-surcharge formula. The formula belongs to the carrier, contract or pricing system.

Where the diesel number comes from

EIA publishes weekly U.S. on-highway diesel price estimates.

EIA states that it does not calculate, assess or regulate freight fuel surcharges. Shippers and transportation companies negotiate their own methods, and many use EIA's weekly diesel data.

How a formula normally works

A carrier or contract can define which EIA diesel series is used, the baseline diesel price, the assumed fuel economy, whether deadhead is included, and how often the surcharge resets.

DAT RateView publishes its own standard methodology for separating fuel from linehaul. That is DAT's methodology, not a federal rule.

Do not assume

  • "DOE fuel" means one federally required percentage.
  • Two carriers using the same EIA diesel price use the same formula.
  • A spot quote and a contract linehaul quote display fuel the same way.

All-in versus linehaul plus fuel

A spot quote is often discussed as an all-in carrier number.

Contract pricing commonly separates linehaul and fuel.

DAT says RateView normalizes these differences by separating the fuel component from contributed rates, then presenting fuel consistently.

If one quote is all-in and the other is linehaul plus fuel, add the fuel before comparing them.

What to have ready

  • Quote basis — Ask whether the number is all-in or linehaul only.
  • Fuel schedule — Ask which diesel index and formula apply.
  • Effective week — Fuel can reset as the weekly diesel series changes.
  • Accessorial basis — Make sure fuel is not the only missing component.

Sources

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