How Haulr Pricing Works
Freight pricing is famously opaque — brokers stack their margin on top of the carrier's rate, hide the fuel surcharge in the line-haul, and treat accessorials like line-item ambushes on your final invoice. Haulr does none of that. This page explains, in industry-honest terms, exactly what your quote includes and how we get to the number.
The one-line summary
Every Haulr quote is an ALL-IN estimate — linehaul + fuel surcharge already bundled — with accessorials handled directly between you and the carrier. What you see is what the carrier is likely to invoice, minus any dock-specific line items.
1 · The Line Haul
The base of every quote is linehaul — the miles × equipment × lane cost the driver actually earns.
We calibrate against public industry benchmarks refreshed weekly:
- DAT Trendlines — the industry-standard spot-rate index
- Truckstop rate index — cross-check spot-vs-contract spreads
- Shippo live LTL rates — under-5,000-lb pallet moves
Anchor rates as of the latest DAT print:
| Equipment | Rate/mile (dry) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Van (FTL) | $2.68/mi | Baseline |
| Reefer (Refrigerated) | $3.12/mi | +16% over dry van |
| 48' Flatbed | $3.44/mi | +28% over dry van |
| Step Deck | $3.80/mi | Taller loads (>10 ft) |
| Double Drop / Lowboy | $4.20/mi | Extra-tall / heavy machinery |
| RGN Heavy Haul | $4.80/mi | Requires permits + escorts |
| Conestoga (tarped) | $3.90/mi | Weather-protected flatbed |
| LTL | Class + weight based | Shippo live rate |
2 · The Fuel Surcharge (FSC)
Yes — FSC is included in every Haulr quote. You don't add it on top. Here's how we compute it:
~45% fuel surcharge layered onto linehaul — calibrated to the current EIA On-Highway Diesel Retail Price index. Current baseline: ~$5.61/gal (May 2026 DOE print), which works out to:
As DOE reprints diesel weekly, our multiplier re-tunes automatically. If diesel jumps to $6/gal, quotes bump the same week. When it drops, so do the numbers.
3 · Accessorial Charges
This is where Haulr is different from a broker. We do NOT bake accessorial rates into your quote. Instead we hand you the carrier's phone + email at booking so you negotiate accessorials directly. Common items:
| Accessorial | Typical Cost | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Liftgate service | $75 – $150 | Delivery to a spot without a dock |
| Residential delivery | $100 – $200 | Home address vs commercial |
| Inside delivery / lumper | $150 – $300 | Carrier moves freight past the trailer door |
| Detention (past 2 hr FCFS) | $75 – $100/hr | Loading/unloading delays |
| Layover / TONU | $250 – $450 | Overnight hold, missed pickup window |
| Tarps / straps / chains | $50 – $150 | Flatbed load protection |
| Reefer temp requirements | ~5–10% linehaul uplift | Frozen vs chilled specs |
Why we don't quote accessorials up-front: every carrier has a different tariff, dock conditions vary, and shippers routinely change requirements between quote and pickup. Baking them in either overprices most loads or under-books the carrier. Direct-to-carrier negotiation gets both sides an honest number.
If the carrier invoices you a wildly different number than the Haulr estimate, email support@thehaulr.com with your shipment ID (SH-XXXXXX) and we'll mediate. Free to all subscribers.
4 · Estimate vs Actual Invoice
Haulr quotes are ~85–90% accurate at booking. The final carrier invoice is the binding number — same way DAT and Truckstop rates work. Variance comes from:
- Actual weight / class — the carrier verifies on the dock and may reclass
- Dimensional differences — LTL cube rates apply if freight is bigger than declared
- Accessorials assessed on delivery — see above
- Fuel-index shifts mid-transit — rare, but happens on multi-week hauls
5 · The Haulr Subscription vs Broker Margin
This is the big one. Here's how a shipper doing 20 loads/month at $3,000/load compares:
| Provider | Model | Monthly Cost to Shipper |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional broker (15% margin) | Margin baked into carrier rate | ~$9,000/mo lost to margin |
| Uber Freight (~20% margin) | Digital broker, rate-taker | ~$12,000/mo lost to margin |
| GetHaulDirect (5% platform fee) | Marketplace + escrow | ~$3,000/mo platform fee |
| 🟠 Haulr Starter ($349/mo) | Flat subscription · zero margin | $349/mo total |
At 20 loads/month you save ~$8,650/mo vs a traditional broker. Even at just 5 loads/month, the subscription pays for itself in the first haul.
6 · Real-World Example (Torrance CA → Tracy CA)
A common lane we see: ~350 mi mostly I-5 corridor.
| Equipment | Linehaul | + FSC (45%) | Haulr Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Van | ~$792 | ~$356 | ~$1,148 |
| 48' Flatbed | ~$980 | ~$441 | ~$1,421 |
| Reefer | ~$920 | ~$414 | ~$1,334 |
| LTL (2,000 lb, class 70) | Shippo live rate | ~$425 – $580 | |
Add accessorials as needed — those go direct to your carrier.
7 · Frequently Asked Questions
What if the fuel index moves after I book?
Your quote and the carrier's rate confirmation are locked at booking. Post-booking fuel-index movement doesn't retroactively change your invoice.
Can I get a rate confirmation before I subscribe?
Yes — every account gets one free trial quote. Speak or type your load, we'll show you carrier options, prices, and equipment badges. If it beats what you're paying today, subscribe.
Do you handle international / cross-border?
Currently US-only (48 states + selected TX/CA/AZ Mexico border crossings via partner carriers). Canada + full cross-border on the roadmap.
What about hazmat, oversize, or overweight loads?
Hazmat certification is available on request — email us with the UN/NA classification. Oversize permit loads go through our RGN + Stretch flatbed carriers; expect a permit surcharge quoted directly by the carrier.
Ready to test it?
Try a quote free. Speak your load, see 3–7 carrier options in seconds. If it beats your broker, keep us. If not, you owe us nothing.
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