Calculator Inputs
Use the burn rate in liters per selected distance unit. The layout shifts to three, two, or one columns by screen size.
Example Data Table
This sample shows how a logistics team might compare lanes and recoverable fuel exposure.
| Lane | Distance | Trips | Burn Rate | Base Price | Current Price | Base Freight | Illustrative Levy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port A to Hub West | 850 km | 6 | 0.42 L/km | 1.10 | 1.42 | 12,000 | 746.72 |
| Terminal North to Inland DC | 520 km | 8 | 0.39 L/km | 1.05 | 1.31 | 14,500 | 439.30 |
| Harbor East to Retail Zone | 310 km | 10 | 0.36 L/km | 1.12 | 1.26 | 9,800 | 173.17 |
| Coastal Feeder Route | 240 nautical miles | 4 | 3.20 L/unit | 0.98 | 1.27 | 18,400 | 1,014.14 |
Formula Used
Fuel Used = Distance × Trips × Burn Rate × (1 + Route Adjustment ÷ 100)
Fuel Delta Cost = Fuel Used × (Current Fuel Price − Base Fuel Price)
Levy After Markup = Fuel Delta Cost × (1 + Admin Markup ÷ 100)
Positive Levy = max(Minimum Levy, min(Levy After Markup, Freight × Cap %))
Negative Levy = allowed only when fuel credit recovery is enabled
Levy Per Trip = Final Levy ÷ Trips
Levy Per Ton = Final Levy ÷ Chargeable Tons
Levy Per Container = Final Levy ÷ Container Count
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter a shipment or contract name for reference.
- Provide distance, trips, and a burn rate in liters per selected unit.
- Enter the baseline fuel price used in your rate card.
- Enter the current fuel price you want to recover.
- Set freight, weight, and container values for billing analysis.
- Add route adjustment when terrain, congestion, or detours increase usage.
- Use markup, minimum levy, and freight cap to reflect contract rules.
- Apply exchange rate when invoicing in a different currency.
- Submit the form to see levy totals, unit costs, and the graph.
- Use the CSV or PDF buttons to export the results.
FAQs
1) What is a fuel levy?
A fuel levy is a surcharge added to freight pricing when fuel costs rise beyond a contract baseline. It helps carriers recover variable operating costs without fully renegotiating the transport rate.
2) Which fuel price should I use as the base?
Use the fuel price that was assumed when the freight rate was quoted or contracted. That benchmark becomes the recovery threshold for future price changes.
3) Why does the calculator ask for a burn rate?
Burn rate translates route distance into fuel consumption. That makes the levy depend on actual exposure instead of using only a flat percentage of freight.
4) What does route adjustment mean?
Route adjustment captures detours, congestion, port delays, gradients, weather, or handling conditions that increase fuel use beyond the standard operating profile.
5) Can the levy become a fuel credit?
Yes. Enable the credit option when your agreement allows downward fuel adjustments. If current fuel falls below the baseline, the result can become negative.
6) Why use a cap as a percentage of freight?
A cap prevents the levy from exceeding agreed commercial limits. It is common in customer contracts that allow recovery, but only within a controlled surcharge range.
7) When should I use levy per ton or per container?
Use those metrics when internal costing or customer billing is tied to weight or equipment count. They help allocate the surcharge more transparently across shipments.
8) Does exchange rate affect levy percentage?
No. The levy percentage of freight stays the same because both values convert together. Exchange rate only changes the invoiced monetary figures.