Fuel Surcharge

TRE Dictionary

A fuel surcharge is a separately identified transportation charge intended to account for fuel costs. Its label does not tell you the amount, the calculation base, or whether it is already included in your estimate.

In plain English

Ask the mover to show the fuel calculation, not just a percentage. The applicable rate schedule or tariff may use a defined percentage, a mileage basis or another stated method. Do not assume one company’s method applies to another move.

A worked example

Hypothetical arithmetic, not a market rate: a 10% surcharge applied to a $2,000 eligible transportation charge equals $200. If the written rule instead applies to $2,500 of eligible charges, it equals $250. The calculation base matters as much as the percentage. Do not add the surcharge again if it is already included in the quoted total.

What to check before agreeing

• What charge or mileage quantity does it apply to?
• Is the amount fixed for this move or tied to a stated index and date?
• Is it included in the estimate’s total?
• Does a trip or travel charge already cover any of the same costs?
• Which tariff item or pricing provision explains it?

Responsibility and handoff

Estimating should pass the calculation base, applicable rate, effective date and inclusion status to billing. Customers should keep that explanation with their written estimate. A fee label by itself does not establish a right to change the agreed price.

Evidence and scope

A 2021 South Carolina carrier tariff filing lists a percentage fuel charge and specifies the charges it applies to. It demonstrates one documented method, not today’s price or a national rule. FMCSA’s tariff guidance explains access to the rates, rules and charges governing a covered shipment.

Related guidance

Tariff · Moving Quotes Explained · Moving Estimates · Dictionary

Reviewed September 5, 2026. U.S. moving context; charges depend on the applicable move, agreement and rules.