Structured Fuel Surcharge

Moot

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
It finally happened, today I succumbed to Panther's structured fuel surcharge. The past few weeks I have been offered loads with very low fuel surcharges. I suspected they had been messing with the f.s.c. ever since they began paying all deadhead miles. Most of the loads I accepted were within a couple of cents either side of the structured f.s.c. until recently. The last two loads I turned down I was able to prove they were targeting me and bypassing structured f.s.c. vans to offer me the low f.s.c. loads. I called them on it and while not admitting to the practice, I was able to have the refusals removed.

So now I am on the structured f.s.c. which this week is .24/mile. It shouldn't make a whole lot of difference to my bottom line since I haven't seen many over .30/mile f.s.c. in the past year with the exception of "minis". It will certainly make the "mini" less profitable being on the structured f.s.c. I won't haul them any more unless I can gouge them on a bonus. Oh well, sometimes I forget we are partners, silly me!
 

Newtothis

Seasoned Expediter
On the positive sounds like at least your getting load offers. Me not so much this last week and half!
 

ATeam

Senior Member
Retired Expediter
For those of us who do not know, what is a structured fuel surcharge?
 

LDB

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
24 cents for a van is a very high fsc, especially if it's paid on all miles. I wish we got that.
 

fastrod

Expert Expediter
24 cents for a van is a very high fsc, especially if it's paid on all miles. I wish we got that.

This week I am charging 43 cpm fsc, 24 cpm is very low. And this is for my van. If your getting less than 24cpm fsc your getting hosed big time.
 

OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
24 cents for a van is a very high fsc, especially if it's paid on all miles. I wish we got that.

Leo...I have to with fastrod..at .24 you are getting hosed..my last load was at .41...all miles was .36
 
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jaminjim

Veteran Expediter
Average FSC is what counts, It's great to get the crazy $0.80 ones and it boosts the bottom line for the week but what the average is, is what counts.
 

Moot

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
If your getting less than 24cpm fsc your getting hosed big time.

The initial purpose of a fuel surcharge was to help offset erratic spikes in fuel prices. A carrier could institute a f.s.c. rather than constantly changing their published tariffs. Today it seems many carriers are using the fuel surcharge not only to offset the price of fuel but as a profit enhancer.

$1.25/gallon for diesel fuel is a common baseline price that a typical f.s.c. will bring the national average price down to. This week the national average for diesel fuel is $3.96/gal. and $3.59 for regular gasoline. I run a gasoline powered van that averages over 16 mpg. My f.s.c. is based on the price of diesel and I believe 12 mpg. If I were paying the national average of 3.59/gal. for gas, my actual price per mile would be about .22, so the f.s.c. is paying for all my loaded miles with a few cents extra.
 

Turtle

Administrator
Staff member
Retired Expediter
Unless Panther has changed the formula...
$ National Avg - $1.25, Divided by 11 MPG for a cargo van.

$3.96 - $1.25 = $2.71
$2.71 divided by 11 = 24.6 cents.


Top of the EO page shows National Average to be $3.94. In that case, $3.94 - $1.25 = 2.69 / 11 = 24.4 cents.
 

Moot

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
For all the newbies out there, doesn't that just explain it all. Thanks for clearing that up for them.

Slacker, in Panther Speak™, structured fuel surcharge really means "sliding" or "adjustable" fuel surcharge because it changes with the weekly national average price of diesel fuel. In Panther Speak™ a delivery receipt is called a Pro Bill and if you request a load going toward your home, you are put on Home Tyme™. I wish they would add an "H" to tyme. I wonder if an IRT decoder ring would translate Panther Speak to English?
 

Moot

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
Top of the EO page shows National Average to be $3.94. In that case, $3.94 - $1.25 = 2.69 / 11 = 24.4 cents.

Hey, I am getting hosed! They're pocketing .004. Rotten %#*^&$@ ^@#*$#^#!
 
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usafk9

Veteran Expediter
Slacker, in Panther Speak™, structured fuel surcharge really means "sliding" or "adjustable" fuel surcharge because it changes with the weekly national average price of diesel fuel. In Panther Speak™ a delivery receipt is called a Pro Bill and if you request a load going toward your home, you are put on Home Tyme™. I wish they would add an "H" to tyme. I wonder if an IRT decoder ring would translate Panther Speak to English?


That's a negative, cupcake. Pretty certain that Cheri is the holder of said decoding device. I think she told me in your case, it would translate Panther Speak to Yamoo-ese.

Hope I wasn't unclear.
 

Moot

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
That's a negative, cupcake. Pretty certain that Cheri is the holder of said decoding device. I think she told me in your case, it would translate Panther Speak to Yamoo-ese.

Hope I wasn't unclear.

like.jpg
 

LDB

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
Well, I'm glad some of you guys are being paid European fsc's but 43cpm for a van? Congratulations. No offense but that's pretty much like the carriers who charge us $151.67 a month for the QC when QC quoted me a direct price of $64.95 per month for my 3 truck fleet or the $8.67 per month they charge us for the $4.95 per month QC charges them for the phone notification of load offers.
 

gospelriders

Seasoned Expediter
Well, I'm glad some of you guys are being paid European fsc's but 43cpm for a van? Congratulations. No offense but that's pretty much like the carriers who charge us $151.67 a month for the QC when QC quoted me a direct price of $64.95 per month for my 3 truck fleet or the $8.67 per month they charge us for the $4.95 per month QC charges them for the phone notification of load offers.


oh, i was under the impression all carriers were non profit organizations:rolleyes:
 
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