When a rate is quoted "all-in," the linehaul is the largest component: the miles between pickup and delivery multiplied by a rate per mile, or a flat amount for the lane. Fuel surcharge and accessorials are stacked on top.
Separating linehaul from fuel surcharge matters for comparison. Two loads quoted at the same all-in rate are not equal if one carries a higher fuel surcharge — the linehaul portion, which is what actually reflects the market value of the lane, is lower on that load.
Linehaul rates move with supply and demand on the specific lane and direction. The same city pair can carry very different linehaul rates eastbound versus westbound, and week to week, depending on where trucks and freight are concentrated.
Example
A 900-mile load is quoted at $2,250 all-in. That breaks down as $1,890 linehaul ($2.10 per mile), a $310 fuel surcharge, and a $50 stop-off. Comparing it to another 900-mile load quoted at $2,250 all-in but with a $420 fuel surcharge, the second load’s linehaul is only $1.98 per mile — a weaker lane despite the identical headline number.
Why it matters
Judging loads on the all-in number hides which lanes are actually paying. Dispatchers who compare linehaul rate per mile see the real market and price their capacity accordingly.