Answers to common shipping questions, written for businesses that need to plan the next move. Tell us about your shipment when you are ready to compare options.
Clear answers to common freight questions, from LTL freight class to choosing full truckload or LTL and preparing a quote request. Written by the team at Logistics Worldwide, a freight brokerage in Jacksonville, Florida.
Short, practical reads on LTL and truckload shipping, freight classification, and planning your next shipment. Search by keyword or filter by topic.
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Freight class is one of the biggest drivers of an LTL rate. Review the commodity, the packaged dimensions, and the packaging before you request a quote, especially after the 2025 NMFC changes.
Read article →Use four simple questions to gather the shipment details you need to compare freight services side by side.
Read article →A quick midweek check of upcoming pickups and freight details can keep a small change from turning into a last-minute scramble.
Read article →LTL shares trailer space, while full truckload reserves a trailer for one shipment. Learn how to compare both using actual weight, dimensions, and timing.
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Accurate details lead to accurate rates and fewer billing adjustments after delivery. Gather these before you submit a request.
Choose your freight type to open the matching quote request.
Quick answers to questions shippers ask us every week.
Less-than-truckload (LTL) combines smaller shipments from several shippers on one trailer and is priced mainly on weight, dimensions, freight class, and distance. Full truckload (FTL) reserves an entire trailer for one shipment, which can make sense for larger loads, time-sensitive freight, or freight that should not be handled at terminals.
Read more in When to Ship Full Truckload Over LTL.
The National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) assigns LTL freight one of 18 classes, from 50 to 500, based on density, stowability, handling, and liability. NMFC changes that took effect in 2025 moved many commodities to density-based classes, so accurate packaged dimensions and weight matter more than ever.
See Freight Class Explanations for details.
Have the pickup and delivery ZIP codes, a commodity description, the number and type of handling units, packaged dimensions and weight, the ready date, and any special requirements such as a liftgate or residential delivery. For LTL, include the freight class if you know it.
When you are ready, request a freight quote.
Logistics Worldwide arranges full truckload, LTL and volume, flatbed and step deck, refrigerated and frozen, specialized (oversized and overweight), expedited, intermodal and rail, and drayage and port shipments. Visit Services for details on each.
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Send us your shipment details and our team will compare the available options for you.
Prefer to talk? Call 1-844-488-SHIP (7447).
Request a Freight Quote · Request a shipping account
Monday, October 12, 2026
The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s October 6 update put the national average retail price for on-highway diesel at $6.199 per gallon for October 5. That was 18.3 cents lower than the prior week. In the Lower Atlantic region, the average fell 25.4 cents to $5.699 per gallon.
That movement matters to freight buyers, but it does not automatically produce the same change on every freight invoice. EIA publishes the price data; it does not calculate, assess, or regulate diesel fuel surcharges. Those terms are set privately between shippers and transportation providers, and each company may use a different method.
Before you compare quotes, check how the fuel component is built.
Ask which published diesel price the quote uses. EIA reports national and regional averages, and the number in a fuel-surcharge schedule may be tied to one specific geography.
A quote that references the national average is not using the same starting point as one tied to a regional average. Record the index name and geography so you can compare the quotes on the same basis.
EIA’s weekly diesel estimate reflects cash, self-service pump prices, including taxes, observed at sampled outlets as of 8:00 a.m. local time on Monday. EIA generally publishes the average on Tuesday morning, or Wednesday after a government holiday.
A transportation provider may apply that published number immediately, the following week, or according to another timing rule in the agreement. Ask which EIA release date applies to the shipment and when a new value becomes effective.
Do not assume that a lower weekly diesel average will create an equal reduction in the charge. Ask for the formula or table that converts the selected index into the surcharge.
Confirm any base price or trigger, the calculation step, and how the result is rounded. If the charge is expressed as a percentage, per-mile amount, or flat shipment amount, make sure you know which cost or mileage figure it applies to.
Fuel is only one part of the quoted cost. Verify the shipment date, origin, destination, equipment or service type, weight, dimensions, and any planned stops. Then confirm that the fuel calculation uses the same route and shipment assumptions as the base quote.
If pickup moves into another pricing week, ask whether the fuel surcharge will be recalculated. A quote can appear stable while its fuel component remains subject to change.
Put each quote into the same simple structure:
• Base transportation charge
• Fuel surcharge
• Known accessorial charges
• Total quoted amount
• Quote expiration date
• Items that remain subject to change
The lowest base rate is not necessarily the lowest total. A visible all-in comparison also makes it easier to spot when two providers are using different fuel assumptions.
Before accepting a freight quote, ask:
• Which diesel index and geography does the surcharge use?
• Which published date controls the calculation?
• What formula or table converts the index into the charge?
• What shipment details or mileage does the calculation assume?
• Will the surcharge change if the pickup date changes?
• Which charges are included in the quoted total, and which are not?
One lower-price week is useful information, but it is not a substitute for reading the quote terms. EIA’s October Short-Term Energy Outlook also cautions against treating one weekly move as a lasting trend: it expects distillate inventories to remain below the 2021–2025 average and retail diesel prices to stay above $4 per gallon through 2027.
Ready to compare pricing for an upcoming shipment? Request a Freight Quote:
https://www.logisticsworldwide.com/home/request-a-quote/
For ongoing shipping, request a shipping account:
https://www.logisticsworldwide.com/home/request-account/
Sources
EIA Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update, released October 6, 2026
EIA FAQ: How do I calculate diesel fuel surcharges?
EIA methodology for weekly on-highway diesel estimates
EIA October 2026 Short-Term Energy Outlook
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