Fuel Surcharge • Truck Charge • Road Transport • Rates • Transparent
Fuel surcharge and the Dutch truck charge explained
See the current fuel surcharge and read what the Dutch kilometre-based truck charge, in force since 1 July 2026, means for LCL and FCL transport. TOP communicates both surcharges transparently and passes them on one-to-one — without markup. That way you know exactly where you stand in advance.
In short: what is the fuel surcharge?
The fuel surcharge (diesel surcharge) is a variable surcharge carriers apply to absorb fluctuations in fuel prices. Carriers use a fixed base diesel price; if the actual diesel price rises above it, the difference is converted via a diesel index into a surcharge percentage that is adjusted periodically. In addition, the Dutch truck charge (vrachtwagenheffing) has applied since 1 July 2026. TOP passes both cost components on one-to-one, without markup.
These surcharges belong to road transport: the pre- and on-carriage of containers and pallets, from the first kilometres after container handling at the terminal to delivery at your customer. They therefore also affect sea freight shipments at import, where the final kilometres almost always go by road. And whoever sees the cost per kilometre rise naturally also looks at intermodal alternatives via rail and barge for the long leg.
Current fuel surcharge
37%
Applicable in July 2026. This percentage is calculated on the basis of current diesel prices and agreed indices, and is updated monthly on this page.
Why is a fuel surcharge applied?
Fuel is one of the biggest cost items in road transport, and the diesel price moves constantly. Without a surcharge mechanism, every carrier would have to build a permanent risk margin into the base rate — meaning you would also pay for price increases that never happen. The fuel surcharge makes those fluctuations visible and fair: if the diesel price rises above the agreed base price, the surcharge rises with it; if the price falls, the surcharge falls too.
The percentage is adjusted periodically on the basis of a diesel index and directly reflects developments in the market. The surcharge is charged by carriers and passed on by TOP one-to-one, without markup. By communicating transparently about it, TOP ensures clarity, predictability and fair rates — for transport within the Netherlands and for international shipments in which road transport is part of the total logistics solution.
Since 1 July 2026 a second variable cost component has been added: the Dutch kilometre-based truck charge, known as the vrachtwagenheffing.
The Dutch truck charge since 1 July 2026
Since 1 July 2026, owners of trucks in the Netherlands pay per kilometre driven, on almost all motorways and on a number of provincial and municipal roads. The charge applies to Dutch and foreign trucks heavier than 3,500 kilos; the cleaner and lighter the vehicle, the lower the rate. The Eurovignette has stopped in the Netherlands at the same time.
For TOP this means that the costs we receive from our carriers are passed on for transport within the Netherlands — transparently, so it is clear in advance which surcharge applies. Below is what that means concretely for LCL and FCL shipments.
What companies often get wrong about these surcharges
The first misconception: "the fuel surcharge is hidden margin." Not at TOP. The surcharge is based on a diesel index and passed on one-to-one, as the costs arise in the transport chain — without markup. And it works both ways: if the diesel price falls below the reference point, the surcharge falls just as well.
The second misconception: "the truck charge is the carrier's choice." It is not: it is a Dutch government charge that has applied since 1 July 2026 to all freight traffic above 3,500 kilos, with Dutch or foreign number plates. No carrier can avoid it — the only difference is how transparently the costs are passed on.
The third misconception: "surcharges make quotes incomparable." The opposite is true: precisely by separating fuel and charge costs from the base rate, you can compare offers fairly. Be alert to parties that charge "no surcharges" — the risk is then hidden in the base rate, and you also pay it in months when the diesel price turns out fine.
Practical example
An importer has a full container collected at the Maasvlakte for delivery to the distribution centre, after which the empty container has to go back to the depot. TOP shows the full cost structure in advance: the base rate for the trip, the current fuel surcharge for that month and the truck charge of € 0.22 per kilometre over the entire trip — from collection up to and including the empty return. No surprises on the invoice afterwards, and for the next shipment the importer can calculate in advance what the trip will cost.
Fuel surcharge and truck charge in numbers: sources and methodology
The facts below come from the Dutch government and Transport en Logistiek Nederland, and were verified for this page in August 2026. The current fuel surcharge is updated monthly on this page.
Truck charge since 1 July 2026 — The Dutch truck charge has applied since 1 July 2026 to Dutch and foreign trucks heavier than 3,500 kilos, on almost all motorways and a number of provincial and municipal roads. Because of increased fuel prices, a temporary rate reduction of 22.3% applies from 1 September up to and including 31 December 2026.
On average 19.1 cents per kilometre — The average rate of the truck charge is 19.1 eurocents per kilometre (2026 price level). The level depends on the weight and CO₂ emission class of the vehicle: the cleaner and lighter, the lower the rate. From 2027, rates are indexed annually.
TOP's methodology — The fuel surcharge is calculated on the basis of current diesel prices and agreed indices and published monthly on this page. The truck charge is passed on as + 8% on the freight rate (LCL) or € 0.22 per kilometre (FCL, from collection up to and including the empty return). Both are passed on one-to-one, without markup.
Source: TOP rate methodology, valid since 1 July 2026
History of the fuel surcharge
Below is the development of the fuel surcharge over recent months.
July 2026
27 July — 37%
20 July — 35%
June 2026
1 June — 33%
15 June — 30%
How TOP handles these surcharges practically and transparently
TOP does not calculate the fuel surcharge and truck charge as extra margin, but passes these costs on as they arise in the transport chain. That keeps the cost structure clear, verifiable and fair — in every quote you see exactly which part is base rate and which part is surcharge.
Insight in advance is part of that. The current surcharge percentage is on this page, and you follow the status and costs of your shipments in real time via the TOP platform with API integrations. And if the number of road kilometres adds up, TOP honestly calculates whether an intermodal combination with rail or barge on the long leg works out cheaper — after all, the truck charge only applies to road transport.
Do you have questions about what the truck charge means for your shipment, or do you want to know in advance which costs apply? Feel free to contact us — we are happy to look into it with you. Ready to go? Request a quote or prepare your shipment via book a shipment.
Which companies is TOP suitable for?
TOP is suitable for companies that want a grip on their transport costs. These can be SMEs that occasionally have a container driven and want to understand what is on the invoice, but also multinationals with daily trips in which every surcharge component feeds into the cost price calculation.
Boards want predictable costs without surprises. Logistics managers want to calculate in advance what a trip costs, including surcharges. Finance and procurement want a verifiable cost structure in which margin and pass-through are separated. TOP understands that these interests come together in one thing: transparency.
That is why TOP works in an advisory and practical way. No unnecessary jargon, but clear explanations of rates, indices and pass-through. For general developments in the transport sector, TOP also refers where relevant to industry information from Transport en Logistiek Nederland.
TOP is not a standard freight forwarder
TOP helps companies with a practical combination of customs matters, sea freight, air freight, intermodal transport, warehousing, rail and barge. This makes TOP particularly suitable for entrepreneurs and logistics teams who want understandable advice on importing, exporting and their transport costs without complicated jargon. Its strength lies in organising, explaining and following up on the entire logistics chain — including a fair, verifiable cost structure.
Frequently asked questions about the fuel surcharge and truck charge
What is the fuel surcharge?
A variable surcharge that carriers apply to absorb fluctuations in fuel prices. The percentage is adjusted periodically on the basis of a diesel index and directly affects your transport costs.
How high is the fuel surcharge this month?
In July 2026 the fuel surcharge is 37%. The current percentage is updated monthly on this page and is calculated on the basis of current diesel prices and agreed indices.
What is the Dutch truck charge?
A Dutch government charge in force since 1 July 2026: trucks heavier than 3,500 kilos pay per kilometre driven on almost all motorways and a number of provincial and municipal roads. The average rate is 19.1 cents per kilometre (2026 price level).
How does TOP pass on the truck charge for LCL shipments?
For LCL deliveries by trailer within the Netherlands, a surcharge of 8% on the freight rate applies since 1 July 2026.
How does TOP pass on the truck charge for FCL shipments?
For FCL deliveries by truck, a pass-through of € 0.22 per kilometre applies since 1 July 2026, calculated from collection at the Maasvlakte terminal up to and including returning the empty container to the depot.
Does TOP charge margin on these surcharges?
No. TOP does not calculate the fuel surcharge and truck charge as extra margin, but passes these costs on one-to-one as they arise in the transport chain. That keeps the cost structure clear, verifiable and fair.
Conclusion: transparent surcharges, predictable costs
The fuel surcharge and the truck charge are no surprises when they are clear in advance. The surcharge follows the diesel index and can therefore also fall; the truck charge is a government charge that applies to everyone. The difference lies in the transparency with which they are passed on.
TOP passes both on one-to-one, publishes the current percentage on this page and shows the full cost structure in every quote. That way you know where you stand in advance — every month again.
Know in advance what your transport costs
Want to know which surcharges apply to your shipment — or what a trip costs including the fuel surcharge and truck charge? TOP calculates it transparently for you.
Request a quoteWant to know more about Trans Ocean Pacific forwarding? Visit the TOP homepage.
Last updated: August 2026. Sources: Government of the Netherlands and Transport en Logistiek Nederland. Online findability and AI readiness of this page in collaboration with HEF Digital.