Line haul
Line haul is the base transportation charge for moving freight from origin to destination, before fuel surcharge and any accessorial charges are added.
Last reviewed · by the Fleetchart team
When a rate con separates the money into components, line haul is the largest one: the price of the movement itself. Fuel surcharge, detention, extra stops and lumper reimbursements are listed on top of it.
Comparing loads on line haul alone is misleading, because two loads with the same line haul can pay very differently once surcharge and accessorials are counted. The number that matters is the all-in rate divided by the miles you actually run.
For example, say two loads both pay $1,800 line haul for 600 miles. Load A adds a $0.50 per mile fuel surcharge, which is 600 × $0.50 = $300, plus $100 for an extra stop, so it pays $1,800 + $300 + $100 = $2,200. Load B adds nothing. Load A pays $2,200 ÷ 600 = $3.67 a mile, while Load B pays $1,800 ÷ 600 = $3.00 a mile. Same line haul, $400 apart.
For your money, line haul is the part you can count on. Surcharge moves with diesel, and extras only get paid if you write them down and bill them. A load that leans on extras to look good carries more risk than one with a strong line haul.