Convert fuel surcharge tables from PDF to structured data?
Fuel surcharge tables in a PDF rate sheet convert to structured data by parsing the PDF and extracting the surcharge as its own field alongside the base lane rate — rather than treating it as a separate document — so a quote calculation can apply base rate plus fuel surcharge automatically.
Why fuel surcharge needs its own field
Fuel surcharge (FSC) tables are often published as a separate percentage-by-fuel-price grid, or embedded as a line item next to each lane rate. If a parser only extracts the base lane rate and ignores the surcharge, the resulting quote understates the true cost — fuel surcharge is a first-class part of the total rate, not an afterthought.
What extraction needs to capture
- The base lane rate (origin, destination, equipment) separate from the surcharge.
- The fuel surcharge value or percentage tied to that specific lane or rate sheet.
- The validity window, since fuel surcharge tables often update more frequently than base lane rates.
- Whether the surcharge is a flat amount or a percentage of the base rate, since that changes how a quote calculation applies it.
How RateParse extracts fuel surcharge
RateParse's extraction schema includes fuel surcharge as a dedicated field alongside origin, destination, equipment, rate, rate basis, validity window, and accessorials — so a fuel surcharge table embedded in a PDF rate sheet is captured as structured data tied to its lane, not left as unparsed fine print.
Frequently asked questions
Does the parser distinguish flat fuel surcharge amounts from percentage-based ones?
Fuel surcharge is extracted as a structured field per lane; the underlying value reflects how the source sheet expressed it (flat amount or percentage) so it can be checked against the original document during review.
What if the fuel surcharge table is on a separate page from the lane rates?
The parser reads the full document and associates surcharge information with the relevant lane rates during extraction rather than requiring surcharge and rate to appear on the same page.