FUEL CHARGE
DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL COURIER
Transportation and courier services are services directly related to the price of road and air pump fuel for the regulated price of kerosene for international air deliveries (US Gulf Coast (USGC) price for kerosene-type jet fuel as reported by the US Energy Information Administration (THEY).
The fuel index for all services is adjusted monthly on the first day of the month. According to the legal regulations, the fuel index is automatically applied in the service invoices and is strictly related to the value of the transport, without application to additional services such as reimbursement or insurance.
Consequently, in order to offer a fair price to customers, TCE applies a different fuel index to road and air services, due to the different evolution between the price of road fuel at the pump and the price of kerosene.
Fuel price fluctuations influence costs in the courier and transportation industry, which has led to the introduction of a variable fuel index that can increase, decrease or disappear, depending on fuel price fluctuations.
Fuel Charge - ROAD COURIER DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL
Currently, the fuel charge is 18.9%.
The fuel index introduced by TCE is applicable to national and international courier services. It is calculated monthly, based on the average price of diesel at the pump, on the last day of the month prior to application, a price obtained by accessing the link: https://www.peco-online.ro/istoric.php
The fuel index is not added to services that do not include transportation. The basic price for the calculation will be 5.1 RON (excluding VAT) / liter. For every 5% increase above this level, TCE will enter a fuel index of 1.35%
Diesel price without VAT (ron / liter) - Fuel index
6.67 - 7.00 lei - index 8.1%
7.01 - 7.36 lei - index 9.5%
7.37 - 7.74 lei - index 10.8%
7.75 - 8.13 lei - index 12.2%
8.14 - 8.55 lei - index 13.5%
8.99 – 9.44 lei - index 16.2%
9.45 – 9.92 lei - index 17.6%
9.93 – 10.43 lei - index 18.9%
10.44 – 10.96 lei - index 20.3%
10.97 – 11.52 lei - index 21.6%
11.53 – 12.10 lei - index 23.0%
12.11 – 12.72 lei - index 24.4%
Fuel Charge - COURIER EXPRESS DELIVERY INTERNATIONAL BY AIR
EXPRESS INTERNATIONAL DELIVERIES
- fuel charge is 16.2% -
aerian deliveries international
Currently, the fuel charge for air services is 33.8 %.
The value of the fuel index on the air service is communicated by UPS and can be consulted here UPS FUEL SURCHARGE ROMANIA
Regardless of the average fuel prices reported by the EIA or the table below, the actual fuel surcharge percentages shown will apply for the specified periods.
For information on aircraft fuel prices, please see EIA Gulf Coast (USGC) Aircraft Fuel Prices. If the reported fuel price information is delayed, the UPS / TCE may use the reported fuel price information from a previous week.
Fuel Charge - SEA CONTAINER DELIVERY WORLDWIDE
SEA CONTAINTER TRANSPORT
- fuel charge is 16.2% -
maritim container transport and delivery
In container shipping, a fuel surcharge is an extra fee added on top of the base ocean freight rate to cover fluctuations in bunker fuel prices. Instead of constantly updating the base rate itself, carriers use fuel-related surcharges to adjust pricing when fuel becomes more expensive or cheaper.
The most common fuel-related surcharge is the BAF (Bunker Adjustment Factor), sometimes also called Fuel Adjustment Factor (FAF). It is explicitly defined as a compensation fee for the vessel’s fuel costs and is applied in addition to the base freight rate.
Fuel surcharges allow carriers to:
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React faster to global oil price changes
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Keep base freight rates more stable
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Spread fuel cost risk between carrier and shipper
To understand how fuel surcharges sit within your total costs, it helps to start with a general overview of ocean freight pricing. You can find this in iContainers’ main ocean freight guide and the detailed international shipping cost guide, which explain the different components of your quote (freight, surcharges, port fees and more).
Why is the fuel index applied to national shipments in Romania
The fuel index applies to domestic shipments in Romania because the cost of fuel directly influences the price of transportation. Trucks, vans and all courier vehicles use fuel to deliver packages, and its price fluctuates quite often. When diesel fuel becomes more expensive, the costs of transport companies also increase. The fuel index is a transparent method by which these variations are reflected in the final tariff, without the need for carriers to constantly modify the basic prices of services.
In short, this index helps maintain a balance: customers pay a fair rate in relation to the real costs of transport, and logistics companies can cover their operational expenses. In periods when the price of fuel decreases, the value of the index usually decreases as well. Thus, the mechanism is flexible and adapted to the market, being used by most courier and transport companies to maintain service stability and cost predictability. 🚚
Why fuel prices affect road courier deliveries
uel prices affect road courier deliveries in Europe because road transport is almost entirely dependent on diesel. Trucks and vans transporting parcels between cities and countries cover hundreds or even thousands of kilometres every day, and fuel is one of the biggest operating expenses for courier companies. When the price of diesel increases, the cost of each journey becomes higher, and this is inevitably reflected in the price of transport services.
In addition, European logistics networks are very extensive and involve many stages: collection, long-distance transport, local distribution and final delivery. Each of these stages involves vehicles that consume fuel. Therefore, even a small variation in fuel prices can have a significant impact on total costs. In order to maintain stable and sustainable services, courier companies adjust their rates or apply a fuel index that reflects these changes in the energy market. 🚚
How does the price of oil affect online businesses?
The price of oil can affect online businesses more than it seems at first glance. Although sales are made online, most products still have to be physically transported to customers. Road, air and sea transportation depend heavily on petroleum-based fuels. When oil prices rise, so do the costs of transportation, storage and distribution, and this is reflected in the overall costs of online stores.
For many e-commerce businesses, delivery is a critical part of the customer experience. If shipping becomes more expensive, companies must either increase delivery fees or absorb some of the costs, which can reduce profit margins. In addition, suppliers and manufacturers may also have higher production and shipping costs, leading to higher product prices.
In short, even if the sale is made digitally, the logistics chain behind it is very real and depends on energy. Therefore, fluctuations in oil prices can directly influence the costs, final prices and delivery strategies of online businesses. 📦🚚
How fuel prices affect logistics systems
the price of fuel has a direct impact on logistics systems, as most transportation operations depend on vehicles that consume diesel or other types of fuel. Trucks, distribution vans, and even some warehouse equipment use fuel to operate, and when its price increases, the overall costs of transportation and distribution also increase.
In a logistics system, transportation is one of the most important components of operational costs. If fuel becomes more expensive, companies are forced to adjust their delivery rates, optimize routes or reorganize transport flows to reduce consumption. Often, these changes also influence delivery times or the way shipments are planned.
In the long term, fuel price fluctuations can lead companies to invest in more efficient solutions, such as fuel-efficient vehicles, route optimization technologies or energy alternatives. Thus, fuel prices not only affect daily costs, but can also influence the way modern logistics systems are designed and developed. 🚚📦