Trucking Cost Per Mile Calculator for Owner-Operators
A trucking cost per mile calculator answers one question every owner-operator needs to be able to answer before saying yes to a load: what does a mile cost me?
This free Trucking Cost Per Mile Calculator from LiveFixPro Bookkeeping turns your own fixed costs, fuel, maintenance and miles into a cost per mile and a break-even rate. Then it compares up to three load offers side by side by estimated profit.
It runs in your browser. Nothing you enter is uploaded, sent or stored, and it works offline once the page is open. Every number is yours: nothing is preset, and no market rates are used.
No account and no uploads. This tool sets no cookies and has no analytics of its own.
Step 1: What does a mile cost you?
Monthly fixed costs (dollars per month)
Truck payment
Trailer payment, if any
Insurance
Permits, registration and fees, averaged per month
Other fixed costs, such as phone, parking or dispatch
Per-mile costs
Fuel price per gallon and miles per gallon (MPG)
Maintenance and upkeep, in dollars per mile
Tires, in dollars per mile
Other per-mile costs, in dollars per mile. Tolls you pay every month can go here.
Driver pay, in dollars per mile, if you pay a driver
Miles
Total miles per month, loaded and empty
Loaded miles per month (optional), which gives a break-even rate per loaded mile too
You get estimated cost per mile for all miles, split into fixed costs and fuel and per-mile costs, plus a break-even rate per total mile and, if you entered loaded miles, per loaded mile. The math is on the page: monthly fixed costs divided by total miles per month, plus fuel price divided by MPG, plus your other per-mile costs. A rate below your break-even rate means the miles cost more than they pay.
Step 2: Is this load worth it?
Enter up to three load offers, and name each one if you like. For each load, enter:
Rate offered, the total pay
Loaded miles, from pickup to delivery
Empty miles to pick up
Tolls on this trip. If tolls are already in your per-mile costs, leave this blank.
Other trip costs, such as parking or unloading fees
The comparison shows each load's total miles, rate per loaded mile and per total mile, estimated cost of the trip, what's left after trip costs and before your fixed-cost share, estimated profit, and profit per total and per loaded mile. You can print the comparison or download it as a CSV. In the CSV, a load name that starts with =, +, - or @ gets an apostrophe in front so a spreadsheet shows it as plain text.
Estimated cost is total miles times your cost per mile, plus tolls and other trip costs. Fixed costs are spread over your monthly miles, so the table also shows what's left before that spread.
Reading the comparison
When there is more than one load, the tool points out the one with the highest estimated profit per total mile. Trip length, timing and getting back to your next load matter too, and the decision is yours. The numbers are estimates from what you entered. They aren't a forecast.
Make the inputs reliable
This calculator is only as good as the fuel, maintenance and insurance numbers behind it. If your books aren't current, start with the Trucking Bookkeeping Cleanup Checklist, then come back and re-run your cost per mile.
Tips for better numbers
Don't count a cost twice. If a cost is in your per-mile numbers, leave it out of the trip costs.
Want current books behind your cost per mile?
LiveFixPro Bookkeeping offers monthly bookkeeping $499/mo. What it includes is confirmed on the free consult. Book a free consult and we'll talk through where your books stand.
FAQ
How do I use a trucking cost per mile calculator?
Enter your monthly fixed costs, fuel price and MPG, other per-mile costs and your miles per month. The calculator works out your cost per mile and your break-even rate. Then you can enter up to three load offers to compare their estimated profit.
What costs go into cost per mile?
Fixed costs such as truck and trailer payments, insurance, permits and fees, and other fixed costs are spread over your monthly miles. Fuel, maintenance, tires, driver pay and other per-mile costs are added on top.
What is a break-even rate?
It's the rate per mile at which a load just covers your estimated cost per mile. The calculator shows it per total mile and, if you enter loaded miles, per loaded mile.
Does the calculator tell me which load to take?
No. It shows estimated profit and profit per mile for each load you enter. Trip length, timing and getting back to your next load matter too, and the decision is yours.
Does the calculator store or upload my numbers?
No. It runs in your browser, and nothing is uploaded, sent or stored.
Find your cost per mile now
Use the calculator above to find your cost per mile, and book a free consult if you'd like help getting your books current.
QuickBooks® is a registered trademark of Intuit Inc. LiveFixPro is independent and not endorsed by Intuit.
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QuickBooks® is a registered trademark of Intuit Inc. LiveFixPro is independent and not endorsed by Intuit.