Guide
Fuel surcharge matrices, explained
A fuel surcharge matrix (or schedule) is a table that turns the weekly DOE diesel price into a surcharge. Each row is a price band.
Reading the bands
A row like “$2.40 to $2.44 → $0.144” means: when the DOE price is in that band, the surcharge is 14.4¢ per mile. Bands written to the cent run up to just below the next band, so $2.44 really means up to $2.449 (DOE prices have three decimals).
Some matrices are written “at least $3.00 / but less than $3.05”. Same idea: the upper number belongs to the next row.
Per mile or percent
Truckload matrices are usually dollars per mile. Drayage and LTL matrices are often a percent of linehaul.
When the price runs off the top
Matrices are written for a price range. If diesel goes above the top band, the matrix no longer says what to charge, and you should ask for an updated one. Many matrices follow a steady pattern (often the per-mile formula), so a careful estimate is possible, but it isn’t a contract rate until both sides agree.
One file, several matrices
Programs often publish separate matrices for dry van, refrigerated and flatbed in one PDF. Make sure you’re reading the right page.
Fuel Calc reads matrices from Excel, PDF or Word, handles all of the above, and shows exactly which band and DOE week it used.