Effective April 4, 2026, OnTrac is replacing the fuel surcharge index that has been in effect since Oct. 25, 2025 with a materially higher schedule. The minimum published fuel surcharge increases from 16.75% to 17.75%, the maximum published fuel surcharge increases from 22.75% to 25.75%, and the published diesel-price range extends to $5.98 from $5.42. The new schedule also begins at a slightly lower diesel threshold, $1.93 instead of $1.94, and it is not described as temporary or subject to a stated end date. Fuel surcharges continue to be based on National U.S. Average On-Highway Diesel Fuel Prices reported by the EIA unless otherwise agreed in writing, and shippers without written agreements may be subject to a West Coast diesel benchmark.
The most significant feature is that, once the percentage tables are compared side by side, this is clearly more than a simple re-banding of fuel-price tiers. It is an upward repricing of the fuel surcharge curve. The index expands from 25 bands to 33 bands. At the low end, the surcharge floor rises by 1.00 percentage point. At the high end, the ceiling rises by 3.00 percentage points. Key surcharge levels are reached at meaningfully lower diesel prices than before: 18.00% begins at $2.20 instead of $2.84, 19.00% at $3.28 instead of $3.50, 20.00% at $3.82 instead of $3.98, 21.00% at $4.18 instead of $4.46, 22.00% at $4.54 instead of $4.94, and 22.75% at $4.81 instead of $5.30. The low end of the schedule uses wider bands, which may reduce small week-to-week movement there, while the high end uses narrower $0.09 bands, which makes surcharge changes more responsive once diesel prices move above $3.55. Recent weekly history shows actual surcharges ranging from 18.75% in mid-January 2026 to 22.75% for March 30-April 5, 2026.
Shippers should expect higher fuel surcharge exposure beginning April 4, 2026. The practical effect is that higher surcharge percentages will apply sooner as diesel prices rise, and the potential maximum is now higher if fuel remains elevated. For example, a diesel reading in the $4.81 to $4.90 band now produces a 22.75% surcharge, whereas that same surcharge previously did not apply until $5.30 to $5.42. Likewise, diesel in the $5.35 to $5.42 range now produces a 24.25% surcharge instead of 22.75%. Across the comparable fuel-price range, the new schedule is never lower than the prior schedule and is generally 0.25 to 1.50 percentage points higher. Shippers should update budget models, surcharge audit logic, and customer pricing assumptions accordingly, and they should review contract language because written agreements can alter the benchmark used.
💡 Effective April 4, 2026, OnTrac is replacing the Oct. 25, 2025 fuel surcharge index with a higher schedule.
💡 The published surcharge range increases from 16.75%-22.75% to 17.75%-25.75%.
💡 The new index expands from 25 bands to 33 bands and extends the published diesel-price range to $5.98 from $5.42. 💡 Key surcharge thresholds are reached at lower diesel prices, including 20.00% at $3.82 instead of $3.98 and 22.75% at $4.81 instead of $5.30.
💡 Across comparable fuel-price ranges, the new schedule is equal or higher and is usually 0.25 to 1.50 percentage points above the prior schedule.
💡 At lower fuel-price levels the bands are wider, while at higher levels they narrow to $0.09 increments, making changes more responsive when diesel is elevated.
💡 Recent weekly surcharge history ranges from 18.75% in mid-January 2026 to 22.75% for March 30-April 5, 2026.
💡 Fuel surcharges continue to use EIA diesel benchmarks unless otherwise agreed in writing, and shippers without written agreements may be subject to a West Coast benchmark.
