A fuel surcharge is a variable part of the freight price that carriers use to account for changing fuel costs. In Sweden, it is called drivmedelstillägg, abbreviated DMT, or bränsletillägg. Fuel surcharges apply to both domestic and international transport.
How is a fuel surcharge calculated?
The surcharge is often expressed as a percentage of the base transport rate. The costs used to calculate it vary between carriers, services and agreements.
Example: With a base rate of SEK 1,000 and a fuel surcharge of 20%, the surcharge is SEK 200. The total is then SEK 1,200, excluding VAT and any other charges.
Why does the surcharge change?
Fuel surcharges are usually based on a fuel price index and adjusted regularly, for example weekly or monthly. An increased surcharge can therefore raise the total freight price even when the base transport rate remains unchanged. There is no single rate that applies to all carriers or modes of transport.
What does this mean when booking freight?
Check whether fuel surcharges are included when comparing freight prices. Shiplink's portal includes the applicable fuel surcharges in the prices shown when booking.
