Fuel Surcharge Notice: Effective March 10, 2026 — What International Vehicle Shipping Customers Need to Know

Published: March 7, 2026

International vehicle shipping is already a multi-leg process — ocean freight, port handling, inland transport, customs clearance. When fuel costs spike across that chain at the same time, it affects pricing at every step. We’d rather tell you directly than let it show up unexpectedly.

Starting March 10, 2026, TGAL will apply a temporary 8% fuel surcharge to transport rates. It will appear as a separate line item on all quotes and invoices so you know exactly what’s included.

Here’s the full picture.

What’s Driving the Increase

Military conflict in the Middle East beginning February 28, 2026, has disrupted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — a critical passage for global oil and refined fuel supply, and one that directly affects the trade lanes many of our international shipments rely on.

The numbers:

• February 2, 2026: National average diesel price was $3.68/gal (DOE)
• March 2, 2026: National average climbed to $3.90/gal (EIA)
• March 3–4, 2026: Regional spikes pushed past $4.40/gal in many markets
• This was the 9th straight week of diesel price increases

Diesel is rising faster than gasoline because more diesel supply moves through the disrupted corridor. The trucking, drayage, and port handling that supports international vehicle exports all run on diesel. That cost is moving through the entire logistics chain right now.

What the Surcharge Looks Like

• Amount: 8% of transport rate
• Effective: March 10, 2026
• Shown on quote: Yes — as a separate line item
• Review schedule: Weekly, based on DOE diesel reports
• Duration: Temporary — removed when prices stabilize

This applies to domestic transport components of your shipment. We’re showing it as a separate line so there’s no ambiguity about what you’re paying.

For Military Families on PCS Orders

A lot of our customers are managing PCS moves — and we know that international relocation has its own set of complications on top of everything else. Vehicle pickup, port check-in, RoRo loading, destination delivery. It’s already a lot to track.

We’re watching diesel prices every week using DOE national data. When prices stabilize, this surcharge gets reduced or removed. We’re not going to sit on it. If your move is coming up and you want clarity on your quote, reach out to your coordinator before March 10 — we’ll walk you through it.

For Freight Forwarders and Agents

We know you’re fielding the same questions from your own customers. A few things worth knowing:

• The surcharge is on the transport component, listed separately on all documentation
• We review it every week and adjust based on DOE weekly diesel reports
• If conditions improve, we reduce or remove it — you don’t need to ask us to revisit it

We’ll keep you posted if the situation changes in either direction.

For Boat Dealers and Commercial Accounts

New vessel deliveries and equipment shipments involve the same cost pressures right now. If you have upcoming shipments and want to lock in a quote before March 10, contact your TGAL account coordinator directly.

What We’re Watching

The Department of Energy publishes weekly diesel price data. That’s our benchmark for reviewing this surcharge. We can’t put a date on when prices will settle — the market doesn’t work on a schedule. What we can tell you is that this surcharge exists to cover a specific cost, and when that cost eases, the surcharge eases with it.

Questions?

Your coordinator is the best first contact. You can also reach us at:

• Email: info@tgal.us
• Website: tgal.us
• Phone: Listed on your quote or booking confirmation

We’ve been moving vehicles internationally for a long time. Part of that job is being straight with customers when conditions change. This is us doing that.