Linehaul vs. All-In: Linehaul Rate
The base transportation rate before fuel surcharge and accessorials are added.
Linehaul rate is the base price a carrier charges to move freight from origin to destination, excluding fuel surcharge and accessorial charges. The all-in rate (sometimes called the total or landed rate) adds fuel and any applicable accessorials on top. Comparing carriers on linehaul alone is one of the most common pricing mistakes shippers make.
Who publishes it
Set per-carrier, per-lane; not centrally published.
How to read it
- All-in rate = linehaul + fuel surcharge + accessorials.
- Two carriers with identical linehaul rates can have very different all-in rates once fuel scale and accessorial tariffs are applied.
- Indices differ on which they report: DAT's headline $/mile is linehaul; FreightWaves' NTI is all-in (includes fuel); NTIL is linehaul-only for direct comparison.
Why it matters
Comparing quotes on linehaul rate alone hides the real cost difference between carriers. The only apples-to-apples comparison is the fully-loaded all-in rate for the exact shipment — weight, class, accessorials, and current fuel price included.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my invoice not match the linehaul rate I was quoted?
A linehaul quote excludes fuel surcharge and any accessorials. The invoice reflects the all-in rate — linehaul plus fuel plus whatever accessorials applied to your specific shipment.
How do I compare rates fairly across carriers?
Compare all-in rates for the identical shipment profile — same weight, class, accessorials, and fuel surcharge date — rather than comparing base linehaul numbers, which can hide a much higher effective cost.
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