The short answer
Trucking cost per mile is your weekly fixed costs divided by miles driven, plus your per-mile running costs (fuel price divided by MPG, plus maintenance and tires per mile). Your break-even rate per mile is that cost divided by (1 minus your dispatch fee). Any load paying less than break-even loses money.
Calculate your cost per mile
- Fixed cost per mile
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- Fuel cost per mile
- -
- Maintenance per mile
- -
- Total cost per mile
- -
- Break-even rate per mile, after dispatch fee
- -
The starting numbers are examples only. Replace them with your own costs. This doesn't include your own pay; add what you want to earn per mile on top of break-even.
How to calculate cost per mile
- Fixed cost per mile = weekly fixed costs ÷ miles per week
- Fuel cost per mile = diesel price ÷ miles per gallon
- Total cost per mile = fixed + fuel + maintenance and tires
- Break-even rate = total cost per mile ÷ (1 − dispatch fee). With a 4.9% fee, divide by 0.951
Use it on every load
Divide a load's pay by its total miles, including deadhead to the pickup. If the result is below your break-even rate, the load costs you money unless it sets up a much better reload.
At Prime Trucks Dispatch we ask every carrier for this number before we book anything, and we negotiate against it. See what dispatch costs.
Cost per mile for owner-operators: why it changes
Your cost per mile isn't fixed. Fuel prices move, repairs come in lumps, and running fewer miles in a slow week spreads your fixed costs thinner. Recalculate when any of those change, so your break-even rate per mile stays accurate.
Common questions
What is a good cost per mile for an owner-operator?
It depends on your truck payment, insurance, fuel economy and miles. Use your own numbers; that's the only figure that matters for your loads.
Should I count deadhead miles?
Yes. Empty miles burn fuel and wear the truck, so include them when you work out a load's real rate per mile.
Does break-even include my pay?
No. Break-even only covers costs. Add what you want to earn per mile on top.