A carbon tax surcharge is an additional fee applied to help recover the cost of carbon taxes, emissions rules, or climate-related charges connected to transportation and fuel use. In logistics, carriers or freight providers may add this surcharge when regulations increase the cost of moving cargo by truck, ocean, air, or rail. The fee is usually tied to fuel consumption, emissions exposure, route, equipment type, or regional carbon pricing rules and can affect the total landed cost of a shipment. These rules can include emissions trading schemes and carbon taxes on fuel consumption.
Where It Applies
- Ocean: EU Emissions Trading System and IMO regulations
- Air freight: national carbon taxes and offset programs
- Road: diesel carbon taxes in countries such as Canada and the UK
Carbon surcharges change as regulations evolve. Include them in landed cost calculations.
Related terms: Fuel Surcharge, BAF, EBS, Green Freight.
