Fuel Surcharge
Many transportation companies and freight carriers include a fuel-cost surcharge in their rates and invoices to cover fluctuations in the cost of diesel fuel. Maschmeyer Concrete adjusts the fuel surcharge every Monday to reflect any change that occurs in the price of diesel fuel as reported in the "EIA Retail On-Highway Diesel Prices" for the area designated as the Lower Atlantic PADD 1C. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is an independent statistical agency within the U.S. Department of Energy whose purpose is to provide reliable and unbiased energy information. For further information, contact:
National Energy Information Center, NEIC
Energy Information Administration
1000 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, D.C. 20585
Telephone: 202.586.8800, 9:00am-5:00pm Eastern time.
E-mail: infoctr@eia.doe.gov---normal response is 3 business days.
Every Monday, EIA conducts a survey of retail on-highway diesel fuel prices from a sample of approximately 350 truck stops and retail service stations around the country. The survey results are published by 5:00 p.m. Monday (or on Tuesday when there is a Federal holiday on Monday). The results are compiled into a U.S. average price and average prices for eight regions of the country and California. These survey results are made available through EIA's Motor Fuels Price Hotline (202-586-6966), EIA's web page, and by E-mail lists (regular and wireless). You can access the results as well as details on the survey at: http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/gdu/gasdiesel.asp
Why are diesel fuel prices higher than gasoline prices?
Historically, the average price of diesel fuel has been lower than the average price of gasoline. However, this is not always the case. In some winters where the demand for distillate heating oil is high, the price of diesel fuel has risen above the gasoline price. Since September 2004, the price of diesel fuel has been generally higher than the price of regular gasoline all year round for several reasons. Worldwide demand for diesel fuel and other distillate fuel oils has been increasing steadily, with strong demand in China, Europe, and the United States, putting more pressure on the tight global refining capacity. In the United States, the transition to ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel has affected diesel fuel production and distribution costs. Also, the Federal excise tax on diesel fuel is 6 cents higher per gallon (24.4 cents per gallon) than the tax on gasoline.
