---
title: How does pricing work?
description: Here's how your price is calculated for shipments operated by Mothership Carrier Network.
---

[Skip to content](https://help.mothership.com/how-does-pricing-work#main-content)

[![](https://help.mothership.com/hs-fs/hubfs/unnamed-1.png?width=150&height=15&name=unnamed-1.png)](https://mothership.com)

Open main navigation

Close main navigation

 How can we help you?

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

1. [Mothership Help Center](https://help.mothership.com/?hsLang=en)
2. [General](https://help.mothership.com/general?hsLang=en)
3. [Quoting and Booking](https://help.mothership.com/general?hsLang=en#quoting-and-booking)

# How does pricing work?

## Here's how your price is calculated for shipments operated by Mothership Carrier Network.

Here's how your price is calculated for shipments operated by the Mothership Carrier Network. Your rate is based on the size, weight, service type, and distance your freight travels.

> **📢 Pricing Update (Effective October 19, 2026)**
> 
> Same-Day Direct rates are now set by pricing region, with lower rates in several popular markets. Harder-to-serve ZIP codes carry a location surcharge.
> 
> **[Read about pricing updates with lower rates in popular markets](https://help.mothership.com/pricing-updates-with-lower-rates-in-popular-markets-2026-10-19?hsLang=en)**

### Single Shipment Same-Day LTL Pricing

Single Shipment Same-Day pricing uses a fixed-rate matrix based on your pricing region, your shipment's total pallet count, and the distance it travels. Each pricing region has its own rate table, set by where your shipment is picked up. Matrix rates combine freight and base fuel. Enter your shipment details in your dashboard to see your exact rate. For distances over 120 miles, an additional $2 per mile applies on top of the base rate.

#### Core Price Components

1. **Base Freight Charge:** Looked up in the rate table for your pricing region, based on your distance bracket and shipment size/weight tier.
2. **Fuel Surcharge:** Applied per mile using the midpoint mileage of your distance bracket and updated weekly based on the EIA diesel fuel index.
3. **Booking Fee:** A standard **$4.99 booking fee** applies to all booked shipments.
4. **Location Surcharge:** Harder-to-serve ZIP codes, where it takes more to get carriers to accept loads reliably, carry a location surcharge. If a pickup or delivery ZIP code starts with one of the listed numbers, that amount is added for that stop. It shows as its own line item. [See location surcharges](https://help.mothership.com/pricing-updates-with-lower-rates-in-popular-markets-2026-10-19?hsLang=en)

**[See worked examples and detailed rate card guidance on our Local Pricing Changes page](https://help.mothership.com/local-pricing-changes?utm_source=gemini&hsLang=en)**

#### Find your rate

Your Same-Day Direct rate depends on your pricing region, your shipment's pallet count, and the distance it travels. To view or download the rate matrix for your region, click your name in the bottom-left corner of your dashboard, then select [Rate card matrix](https://dashboard.mothership.com/rate-card-matrix).

#### How the fuel surcharge works

The fuel surcharge is a separate table, and it's applied per mile on top of your freight charge.

To view the current fuel surcharge matrix in the dashboard, click your name in the bottom-left corner, then select [**Fuel surcharge matrix**](https://dashboard.mothership.com/fuel-surcharge-matrix).

1. Find the row matching the current diesel price/gallon in your pickup zone (it's based on the EIA fuel index published every Tuesday at 10 am ET)
2. Find the column matching your shipment size/weight.
3. Multiply the $ value in that cell by the midpoint of your mileage bracket, e.g. for a shipment between 10 and 20 miles use 15 miles.

 

### Dedicated - 53' Truckload Tariff

This pricing will apply to all shipments that meet the following requirements:

- **Shipment is between 209 - 438 sqft and/or 10,001-40,000 lbs**

| Minimum Charge | $400 | This is the minimum charge per shipment. |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Per mile cost | $3.39 | Every mile will incur a $3.39 cost per mile. |
| Fuel Surcharge (per mi) | Dynamic (Starting at $.02) | Based on current fuel prices according. [Please view the fuel surcharges table here](https://help.mothership.com/how-are-fuel-surcharges-calculated?hsLang=en). |

### Accessorial costs

![Same day rates\_pricing by region](https://help.mothership.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Same%20day%20rates_pricing%20by%20region.png?width=670&height=575&name=Same%20day%20rates_pricing%20by%20region.png)

Mothership does charge additional for certain accessorials. To see the full list and rates, open the [Rate Card Matrix](https://dashboard.mothership.com/rate-card-matrix) in your dashboard.

 

---

 

### Multiple Shipment Pricing

This pricing will apply to all booked shipments using the Multiple Shipment Tool. Learn more about booking [Multiple Shipments here.](https://help.mothership.com/how-do-i-book-a-multiple-shipment?hsLang=en)

| Minimum Charge | $45 | This is the minimum charge per shipment. |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Per Pallet Cost | $15 | Cost per pallet and each additional pallet. Pallets are measured at 48x48x60. |
| Per Mile Cost | $1.15 | Each mile will incur a $1.15 per mile. |
| Fuel Surcharge (per mi) | Dynamic (Starting at $.02) [Link to FSC.](https://help.mothership.com/how-are-fuel-surcharges-calculated?hsLang=en) | Based on current fuel prices according. [Please view the fuel surcharges table here](https://help.mothership.com/how-are-fuel-surcharges-calculated?hsLang=en). |

#### **How is mileage calculated for Multiple Shipments?**

If your shipments can be combined into an optimized route, then you will only be charged for the combined mileage of each leg.

 

**Example:**

1. Pick-up to stop one = 2.2mi
2. Stop one to stop two = 1.5mi
3. Stop two to stop three = 3.3mi

**Total miles = 7mi**

 

[![](https://downloads.intercomcdn.com/i/o/999984602/aa70a987f01b9d4539694ef2/image.png?expires=1772020800&signature=a59fd41ca31b8287e5c4ed3ab8a8781ab2e56d8aae93ff97c819626c31862a36&req=fSkuH8F6m4FdFb4V1XW4gQFHsKzU2bkdGZTOTf3Mk5CKbZqHLPy%2F3wzh5xZe%0ArgZZG6IKkD%2FhEuUZDFC0r6%2BGUA%3D%3D%0A)](https://downloads.intercomcdn.com/i/o/999984602/aa70a987f01b9d4539694ef2/image.png?expires=1772020800&signature=a59fd41ca31b8287e5c4ed3ab8a8781ab2e56d8aae93ff97c819626c31862a36&req=fSkuH8F6m4FdFb4V1XW4gQFHsKzU2bkdGZTOTf3Mk5CKbZqHLPy%2F3wzh5xZe%0ArgZZG6IKkD%2FhEuUZDFC0r6%2BGUA%3D%3D%0A)

 

- [FAQs](https://help.mothership.com/faqs?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Technical Questions](https://help.mothership.com/faqs?hsLang=en#technical-questions)
- [Getting started](https://help.mothership.com/getting-started?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Access Plan](https://help.mothership.com/getting-started?hsLang=en#access-plan)
- [General](https://help.mothership.com/general?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Billing](https://help.mothership.com/general?hsLang=en#billing)
    - [Quoting and Booking](https://help.mothership.com/general?hsLang=en#quoting-and-booking)
    - [Shipping](https://help.mothership.com/general?hsLang=en#shipping)
    - [Tracking](https://help.mothership.com/general?hsLang=en#tracking)
    - [Support](https://help.mothership.com/general?hsLang=en#support)
    - [Claims and Insurance](https://help.mothership.com/general?hsLang=en#claims-and-insurance)
- [Reports](https://help.mothership.com/reports?hsLang=en)
- [Integrations](https://help.mothership.com/integrations?hsLang=en)
- [Product Updates / Changelog](https://help.mothership.com/product-updates-changelog?hsLang=en)
- [Glossary](https://help.mothership.com/glossary?hsLang=en)
- [Account](https://help.mothership.com/account?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Notifications](https://help.mothership.com/account?hsLang=en#notifications)
- [Podcast](https://help.mothership.com/podcast?hsLang=en)
- [Terms & Policies](https://help.mothership.com/terms-policies?hsLang=en)

Copyright © 2026, Mothership Technologies, Inc.