Diesel prices today, and what your broker should be paying you.
Review the latest U.S. diesel averages by PADD region, calculate fair fuel-surcharge recovery, and measure the exact amount your truck absorbs when a broker's quote comes in low.
Fuel Decision Path
You are at Stage 2. Check current diesel prices and surcharge recovery before comparing fuel cards or reviewing providers.
Regional diesel prices across the five PADD regions.
Use the region where the truck actually fuels—not where the load posts. A regional price can materially change the surcharge a lane needs to recover.
Live verified EIA release · Week of July 13, 2026.
| Region | Current price | Prior-week change | Use in calculator |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Coast (PADD 1) | $4.894 | +$0.200 | |
| Midwest (PADD 2) | $4.659 | +$0.201 | |
| Gulf Coast (PADD 3) | $4.546 | +$0.321 | |
| Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) | $4.600 | +$0.116 | |
| West Coast (PADD 5) | $5.550 | +$0.125 |
Regional prices display three decimals for comparison and calculator precision. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration weekly retail on-highway diesel report.
Fuel Surcharge Calculator
Use the current fuel price, the contract's base threshold, and the truck's observed MPG. Add the broker's quoted surcharge to measure under-recovery per mile, per load, and per month.
Load Inputs
Step 1Before you calculate: Use the written base threshold and paid loaded miles from the agreement. The calculator measures surcharge recovery on paid loaded miles; it does not assume deadhead is reimbursed.
Your Result
Step 2—
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How the calculation works.
The formula is simple. The decision quality depends on using the actual contract base, real MPG, and the miles the broker agreed to pay.
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Find the fuel price above the written base.
Subtract the contract's base fuel threshold from the current fuel price. A negative result becomes zero because the formula does not require a surcharge below the base.
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Convert the per-gallon increase into cost per mile.
Divide the fuel amount above the base by the truck's observed MPG. That produces the fair surcharge needed for each paid mile.
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Apply the fair per-mile amount to the load.
Multiply fair recovery by paid loaded miles. This gives the total surcharge the formula assigns to the load.
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Measure the quote gap over the load and month.
Subtract the broker's quoted surcharge from fair recovery. A positive difference is money the truck absorbs; a negative difference means the quote exceeds the formula. Monthly volume shows how quickly a small per-mile gap compounds.
Turn the calculation into a written broker conversation.
The Fuel Surcharge Negotiation Sheet includes the formula, three broker email templates for under-recovery, and a printable pump-side calculator.
Frank DeLuca · Finance Intelligence
“A surcharge is not a favor. It is a line item that either recovers the fuel you burn—or leaves the fuel bill on your side of the settlement.”
Disclosure
HaulSmarterHQ provides educational decision support, not financial, tax, legal, accounting, contract, or freight-brokerage advice. Diesel prices are based on the U.S. Energy Information Administration's weekly on-highway retail estimates and may differ from the price at a specific truck stop or fueling event. Base thresholds, paid-mile definitions, MPG assumptions, and surcharge formulas vary by contract. This calculator evaluates paid loaded miles and does not assume deadhead is reimbursed. Verify the written rate confirmation and governing agreement before invoicing or disputing a surcharge.