---
title: How long until rail sees the impact of rising fuel costs?
description: There is a 60-day lag on fuel surcharges, so any hikes in fuel prices will be noted by railroads and caught up in fuel surcharges two months later.
image: https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/Ask%20the%20Experts/AskTheExperts_Rail.png
---

[![FTR_Logo_Primary_DarkBackground-4](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/FTR_Logo_Primary_DarkBackground-4.png?width=400&height=111&name=FTR_Logo_Primary_DarkBackground-4.png "FTR_Logo_Primary_DarkBackground-4")](https://www.ftrintel.com)

[![AskTheExperts_LPheader](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AskTheExperts_LPheader.jpg?width=1991&name=AskTheExperts_LPheader.jpg "AskTheExperts_LPheader")](https://ask.ftrintel.com)

 

 

# How long until rail sees the impact of rising fuel costs?

Posted by [The FTR Experts](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/experts) on Jun 3, 2021 1:17:48 PM

- [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)

**Todd Tranausky was asked: "When will rising fuel costs begin to affect rail markets?"  
**

This Q&A response from the FTR experts came from our April Rail Outlook (Carload + Intermodal) webinar. View the video and the key takeaways below. 

**Key Takeaways:**

- There is a 60-day lag on fuel surcharges, so any hikes in fuel prices will be noted by railroads and caught up in fuel surcharges two months later. 
- Not all carriers have 100% coverage of fuel surcharges, exceptions can include legacy contracts and certain segments such as coal.

---

 

 Tags: [railcar](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/railcar), [coal](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/coal), [intermodal](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/intermodal), [Rail](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/rail), [fuel](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/fuel), [fuel costs](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/fuel-costs)

 

| **Industry-Leading Resources** |
| --- |

**You work hard to strategically plan. Let us make it even easier for you. **

**FTR is the only company offering a full suite of freight and equipment reports with industry-leading forecasts, impartial analysis, and insights to keep you competitive.**

 

[![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/5867190/d7df1e32-c646-4646-b8e8-35d6fce2e6d2.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/5867190/d7df1e32-c646-4646-b8e8-35d6fce2e6d2)

[![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/5867190/f20e4962-d83f-4777-8f1e-bd9867f84e92.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/5867190/f20e4962-d83f-4777-8f1e-bd9867f84e92)

 

 

| **Join the conversation! Leave a comment below.** |
| --- |

 

---

 

### Submit a question:

You **ask**. FTR Experts **answer**.

[![SUBMIT A QUESTION](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/5867190/00e4679e-3346-4401-9ab7-ad77bee1975b.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/5867190/00e4679e-3346-4401-9ab7-ad77bee1975b)

 

 

---

 

### Search for answers: 

This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached.

- There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

### Browse posts by topic:

- [outlook (73)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/outlook)
- [transportation (70)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/transportation)
- [trucking (60)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/trucking)
- [Economy (57)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economy)
- [Rail (45)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/rail)
- [intermodal (35)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/intermodal)
- [state of freight (28)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/state-of-freight)
- [Freight (22)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/freight)
- [supply chain (20)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/supply-chain)
- [commercial vehicle (18)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/commercial-vehicle)
- [railcar (17)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/railcar)
- [Class 8 (15)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/class-8)
- [orders (14)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/orders)
- [rail equipment (13)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/rail-equipment)
- [carload (11)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/carload)
- [economic (9)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economic)
- [trailers (9)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/trailers)
- [employment (8)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/employment)
- [production (8)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/production)
- [CV Update (7)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/cv-update)
- [GDP (7)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/gdp)
- [consumer (6)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/consumer)
- [growth (6)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/growth)
- [jobs (6)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/jobs)
- [recovery (6)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/recovery)
- [spot market (6)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/spot-market)
- [Demand (5)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/demand)
- [driver shortage (5)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/driver-shortage)
- [for-hire trucking (5)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/for-hire-trucking)
- [inflation (5)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/inflation)
- [automotive (4)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/automotive)
- [build levels (4)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/build-levels)
- [coal (4)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/coal)
- [inventory (4)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/inventory)
- [levels (4)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/levels)
- [utilization (4)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/utilization)
- [Truck and Trailer (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/truck-and-trailer)
- [Truckload Rates (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/truckload-rates)
- [active utilization (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/active-utilization)
- [congestion (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/congestion)
- [deliveries (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/deliveries)
- [driver capacity (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/driver-capacity)
- [dry van (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/dry-van)
- [economically-sensitive freight (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economically-sensitive-freight)
- [industrial sector (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/industrial-sector)
- [refrigerated (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/refrigerated)
- [spot rates (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/spot-rates)
- [steel (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/steel)
- [unemployment (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/unemployment)
- [Capacity Utilization (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/capacity-utilization)
- [Consumer Spending (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/consumer-spending)
- [Drivers (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/drivers)
- [GDP Goods Transport (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/gdp-goods-transport)
- [OEMs (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/oems)
- [Rail Volume (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/rail-volume)
- [box cars (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/box-cars)
- [chemical (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/chemical)
- [driver demand (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/driver-demand)
- [driver supply (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/driver-supply)
- [federal reserve (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/federal-reserve)
- [flatbed (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/flatbed)
- [fuel (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/fuel)
- [heavy (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/heavy)
- [hirings (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/hirings)
- [imports (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/imports)
- [labor (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/labor)
- [metals (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/metals)
- [service (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/service)
- [services (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/services)
- [truck loadings (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/truck-loadings)
- [COVID-19 (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/covid-19)
- [Coronavirus (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/coronavirus)
- [Freight Volumes (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/freight-volumes)
- [Goods Transport (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/goods-transport)
- [India (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/india)
- [OTR (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/otr)
- [Parcel (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/parcel)
- [Rate Environment (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/rate-environment)
- [TCI (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/tci)
- [Tariffs (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/tariffs)
- [Truck Freight (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/truck-freight)
- [Trucking Conditions Index (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/trucking-conditions-index)
- [Volumes (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/volumes)
- [air (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/air)
- [amazon (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/amazon)
- [auto production (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/auto-production)
- [beverages (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/beverages)
- [challenges (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/challenges)
- [commodity (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/commodity)
- [competitive index (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/competitive-index)
- [contract rates (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/contract-rates)
- [cube covered hopper (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/cube-covered-hopper)
- [disparity (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/disparity)
- [disruption (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/disruption)
- [double-dip recession (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/double-dip-recession)
- [dwell times (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/dwell-times)
- [equipment costs (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/equipment-costs)
- [esg benefits (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/esg-benefits)
- [executive order (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/executive-order)
- [flatbed market (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/flatbed-market)
- [forest product (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/forest-product)
- [freight truckload (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/freight-truckload)
- [fuel costs (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/fuel-costs)
- [gondola (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/gondola)
- [goods (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/goods)
- [grain (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/grain)
- [heavy-duty (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/heavy-duty)
- [hires (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/hires)
- [idle trucks (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/idle-trucks)
- [labor participation rate (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/labor-participation-rate)
- [lead times (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/lead-times)
- [lumber (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/lumber)
- [market power (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/market-power)
- [medium-duty (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/medium-duty)
- [merger (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/merger)
- [national debt (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/national-debt)
- [open-top hopper (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/open-top-hopper)
- [openings (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/openings)
- [order boards (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/order-boards)
- [output (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/output)
- [pandemic recovery (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/pandemic-recovery)
- [peak year (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/peak-year)
- [ports (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/ports)
- [psr (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/psr)
- [railroad (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/railroad)
- [raw materials (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/raw-materials)
- [red tag (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/red-tag)
- [retailers (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/retailers)
- [rubber (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/rubber)
- [sand (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/sand)
- [savings (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/savings)
- [scrap (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/scrap)
- [scrap metal (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/scrap-metal)
- [semiconductors (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/semiconductors)
- [service disruptions (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/service-disruptions)
- [shipping (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/shipping)
- [shipping delays (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/shipping-delays)
- [shortage (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/shortage)
- [state budgets (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/state-budgets)
- [taxes (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/taxes)
- [trailer industry (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/trailer-industry)
- [trailer market (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/trailer-market)
- [train speeds (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/train-speeds)
- [truck rates (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/truck-rates)
- [trucking companies (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/trucking-companies)
- [turn times (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/turn-times)
- [used trucks (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/used-trucks)
- [vehicle demand (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/vehicle-demand)
- [workforce (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/workforce)

[see all](https://ask.ftrintel.com/impact-rising-fuel-costs#)

### View recent posts:

### About FTR

From freight demand to system capacity to equipment production, our clients benefit from the industries most reliable forecasts, quantitative market intelligence, key trends, and comprehensive analysis on North American freight transportation. Transportation professionals apply this information to their internal planning, forecasting, and market analysis.

Our clients come from the shipping, trucking, rail, intermodal, equipment, and financial communities. 

[Learn More](https://www.ftrintel.com)

### Links

### Contact Us

**

 888-988-1699

**

[ftr@ftrintel.com](mailto:ftr@ftrintel.com)

**

 1720 N Kinser Pike,  
Suite 210   
 Bloomington, IN 47404

Copyright 2026 — FTR | Transportation Intelligence

<https://www.linkedin.com/company/587939><https://twitter.com/FTRintel>

[**](https://ask.ftrintel.com/impact-rising-fuel-costs#)

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "The FTR Experts",
    "url" : "https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/experts"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2021-06-03T17:54:59.735Z",
  "datePublished" : "2021-06-03T17:17:48.000Z",
  "headline" : "How long until rail sees the impact of rising fuel costs?",
  "image" : [ "https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/Ask%20the%20Experts/AskTheExperts_Rail.png" ],
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://ask.ftrintel.com/impact-rising-fuel-costs",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/FTR%20Logos%20and%20Icons/FTR_Logo_Primary_FullColor.png"
    },
    "name" : "FTR | Transportation Intelligence"
  }
}
```