Calculator
Cost Per Mile Calculator
Add up what it actually costs to run your truck for one mile. If your loads don't beat this number, you're paying to work.
Before You Enter Numbers
The calculator is only as accurate as the numbers you enter.
If you do not know a number, research it before relying on the results. Get real insurance quotes, estimate realistic maintenance and replacement reserves, review your fuel economy, and understand your actual operating costs.
Do not enter numbers simply because they sound reasonable. Small errors can significantly change your cost per mile and lead to poor business decisions.
The goal is not a perfect number. The goal is an honest number based on the best information available.
Fixed costs (monthly)
These expenses exist whether the truck moves or sits.
Variable costs (per mile)
These scale with how much you drive.
Don't know what number to use? Research your equipment, get repair estimates, obtain maintenance data when possible, and build a reserve that reflects your operation. The calculator is only as accurate as the numbers entered.
Miles you actually drive per month
Enter the total miles you realistically expect to drive each month, including loaded miles, deadhead miles, repositioning, and other business-related miles.
Why This Number Matters
Your monthly mileage has a major impact on your cost per mile.
Fixed costs such as truck payments, trailer payments, insurance, permits, and software stay the same whether you drive 5,000 miles or 10,000 miles.
The fewer miles you drive, the fewer miles those costs can be spread across.
Example:
$9,000 monthly fixed costs ÷ 10,000 miles = $0.90 per mile
$9,000 monthly fixed costs ÷ 8,000 miles = $1.13 per mile
$9,000 monthly fixed costs ÷ 6,000 miles = $1.50 per mile
Nothing changed except the miles driven.
Be realistic when entering monthly miles. Overestimating miles can make your cost per mile appear lower than it actually is and may lead to poor load decisions.
Loaded miles vs. all miles driven
Loaded miles are the miles you get paid for — the distance from pickup to delivery. All miles driven includes deadhead miles: the empty miles to reach the pickup, repositioning between loads, and the miles home.
Your truck burns fuel, wears tires, and loses value on every mile — loaded or empty. That means your true cost per mile must be calculated using total miles driven, not just loaded miles. If you only count loaded miles, your cost per mile looks lower than it really is, and you end up bidding on loads that don't actually cover your expenses.
Warning
Many new operators underestimate their costs because they only calculate loaded miles. Your business pays expenses on every mile driven, including deadhead. If a broker pays $2.00 per loaded mile but you deadhead 30% of your total miles, your all-in rate is closer to $1.40 per mile — and that may not cover your true costs.
Your cost per mile
$0.00
- Fixed costs / month
- $0.00
- Fixed cost per mile
- $0.00
- Variable cost per mile
- $0.00
Any load paying below your Cost Per Mile is losing money. Build your profit on top of this number, not against it.
Your Cost Per Mile represents break-even reality. Profit is determined separately.
Results are estimates only. Actual costs, revenue, profitability, and business outcomes will vary. Users are responsible for verifying all information before making financial or business decisions. See full Disclaimer.