You Spoke Up. Westlake Heard You. Fuel Surcharges

Westlake has apparently heard the message.

In response to continued pressure from recovery professionals over rising fuel prices and the increasing cost of doing business, Westlake has announced a temporary increase in its fuel surcharge support to $40 per completed repossession nationwide and $50 in California. More importantly, Westlake’s announcement openly recognizes the “continued pressure” that fuel prices and overall operating expenses are placing on the recovery industry.

That matters. For years, recovery agents have been expected to absorb increases in fuel, insurance, equipment, labor, maintenance and virtually every other operating expense while reimbursement for the actual recovery has remained largely stagnant. Now, at least one major lender is acknowledging that the economics of the recovery process have changed.

This is exactly why speaking up matters. One company moving its surcharge does not solve the industry’s larger compensation problem, but it demonstrates that the conversation can move beyond complaining about costs and into actual negotiations. The recovery industry has been saying for years that the numbers no longer work. Westlake’s response shows that the people making those concerns known are being heard.

The question now is what happens next. Will other lenders and forwarders recognize the same realities facing their recovery partners? And will the industry continue pushing for compensation that reflects the actual cost of performing a recovery in 2026? Fuel may have started the conversation, but the bigger issue is the sustainability of the recovery industry itself.