The verification task: Match the effective period, percentage, eligible charge base, and contractual treatment. A public fuel table can support one part of an invoice calculation without establishing that the entire line is correct.
When a fulfillment quote lists “fuel: 12%,” the next question should be “12% of what?” That is not a minor billing detail. It is the difference between a reproducible charge and a number you have to take on trust.
What we could establish publicly
OSM Worldwide's fuel policy lists 12.0% for September 7–October 4, 2026. It describes monthly adjustments on the first Monday, using the national U.S. on-highway diesel average from two months earlier. The policy also says percentages and trigger points can change. OSM Worldwide fuel policy.
That supports a dated fuel-rate observation. It does not establish your 3PL's markup, the amount to which it applies the percentage, or a separate holiday fee. We did not verify a current OSM holiday surcharge amount in this research.
Build the evidence chain
Request four items for a representative shipment:
| Item | What it establishes |
|---|---|
| Dated rate source | Which fuel percentage belongs to the relevant period |
| Applicable tariff or account terms | Which charges enter the fuel calculation |
| Your 3PL agreement | How the provider bills or includes that cost |
| Shipment-level calculation | Whether the inputs and arithmetic match this shipment |
Keep a link or permitted copy of the source with its access date. Do not treat a screenshot without dates or service context as a complete answer.
You can ask for enough evidence to validate your own charges without requesting another customer's commercial information.
Test the base, not just the multiplication
Illustrative sensitivity check: At 12%, a hypothetical eligible base of $5 produces $0.60. An eligible base of $6 produces $0.72. Across 5,000 identical hypothetical shipments, the difference is $600.
This example does not say either base is correct for OSM. It shows why verifying the base matters even when everyone agrees on the percentage. The calculation is ours; the account treatment must come from the applicable terms.
If the provider's total includes several services, ask which portion is fuel-eligible. If the price is bundled, identify whether fuel is already included before adding a separate allowance in your budget.
Treat fuel and holiday fees as separate questions
Do not accept “peak season” as an explanation for an unlabeled fuel increase. Ask for the source and calculation for each distinct fee. Conversely, do not assume a verified fuel percentage means there can be no other legitimate charges.
For an unverified holiday amount, record “awaiting current schedule,” with an owner and follow-up date. Do not copy another carrier's policy into the gap. A planning assumption can be useful, but it should remain visibly separate from a confirmed rate.
Close the check with a conclusion you can defend
Use three outcomes: verified, unresolved, or inconsistent with the supplied evidence. “Unresolved” is appropriate when the percentage is documented but the eligible base is missing. It is not a finding of overbilling.
Send the exact gap back to the provider. A focused question—“Please identify the eligible charges making up this base”—is easier to resolve than a general complaint about rising shipping costs.
The goal is an invoice you can reconstruct, not a carrier rating based on one published percentage.
Continue the review
Research note
Official OSM policy checked September 22, 2026. We did not inspect a customer tariff, negotiated agreement, or private invoice. The evidence framework and hypothetical calculations are original editorial work. Recheck the current period and terms before using this to approve a bill.