Free owner-operator calculator
Trucking Cost Per Mile Calculator
Your cost per mile is the single number that tells you whether a load makes money. Enter your monthly fixed costs, your per-mile variable costs, and your realistic monthly miles to see your true break-even rate.
Enter your numbers
Your estimate
- Fixed cost per mile
- $0.60/mi
- Variable cost per mile
- $0.90/mi
- Break-even cost per mile
- $1.50/mi
- Suggested target (break-even + 30%)
- $1.95/mi
Never book a lane below this before profit.
A common target margin for spot freight.
How to use this calculator
- Replace every sample field with your real current numbers.
- Include deadhead, fixed costs, and every expense that applies to your operation.
- Use the result as a planning estimate, then compare it against the written rate confirmation before booking.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a good cost per mile for an owner-operator?
- Many one-truck operations land somewhere between $1.50 and $2.00 per mile all-in, but your real number depends on your truck payment, insurance, fuel economy, and monthly miles. Use your own figures rather than an average.
- Should I include empty miles?
- Yes. Deadhead miles cost fuel and wear but earn nothing, so dividing costs across loaded plus empty miles gives you the honest break-even used to price loads.
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