About the Trucking Load Profit Calculator
This load profit calculator tells an owner-operator or small fleet whether a load on the board is worth taking. Enter the offered rate (flat or per loaded mile), any fuel surcharge, the loaded miles and the empty deadhead miles to reach the shipper, then your fuel economy, diesel price, tolls and your non-fuel operating cost per mile.
The calculator shows revenue, fuel cost, operating cost and net profit, plus the numbers dispatchers actually compare: the rate per loaded mile, the all-in rate per total mile (including deadhead), the deadhead percentage and the break-even rate below which the load loses money.
Operating cost per mile should cover everything except fuel and tolls — truck and trailer payments, insurance, maintenance and tires, permits, driver pay and overhead. If you do not know it, work it out first with a trucking cost-per-mile calculator; guessing it low is the most common reason loads that look good turn out unprofitable.
With the default inputs, the net profit on this load is $831.92. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the trucking load profit calculator
- 1Choose whether the load pays a flat rate or a rate per loaded mile, and enter it.
- 2Add any fuel surcharge or accessorial pay not already in the rate.
- 3Enter loaded miles and the deadhead miles to reach the shipper.
- 4Enter your mpg, the diesel price, tolls and other costs such as lumper fees.
- 5Enter your operating cost per mile, then compare net profit with the break-even rate.
Formula and method
Revenue is the linehaul pay (either the flat rate, or the rate per loaded mile × loaded miles) plus any fuel surcharge and accessorial pay. Costs are charged on total miles, because the truck burns fuel and wears out just as much running empty: fuel = total miles ÷ mpg × diesel price, and operating cost = total miles × your non-fuel cost per mile. Tolls and other load-specific costs are added on top.
The rate per loaded mile is what the broker quotes; the all-in rate per total mile spreads revenue across deadhead too, which is the fairer comparison between loads. The break-even rate per loaded mile is total cost ÷ loaded miles — the lowest rate at which the load covers every cost.
- FSC
- Fuel surcharge and other accessorial pay
- MPG
- Average fuel economy in miles per gallon
- CPM
- Operating cost per mile excluding fuel and tolls
- Deadhead
- Empty miles driven to pick up the load
Worked examples
$2,400 flat for 800 loaded miles, 100 deadhead
The truck runs 900 total miles. Fuel is 900 ÷ 6.5 mpg × $3.85 = $533.08, operating cost is 900 × $1.10 = $990, plus $45 tolls, for $1,568.08 in cost. The load nets $831.92 — $3.00 per loaded mile, $2.67 all-in, against a break-even of $1.96 per loaded mile.
$2.75/mile load with a lumper fee and fuel surcharge
Linehaul pays 520 × $2.75 = $1,430 plus a $180 surcharge, so revenue is $1,610. Over 660 total miles fuel costs $383.38 and operating cost $693; with a $75 lumper the total is $1,151.38, leaving $458.62. Deadhead is 21% of miles, which drags the all-in rate down to $2.44.
Cheap load with long deadhead
A $1,100 load needs 700 total miles: $414.62 of fuel, $770 of operating cost and $45 tolls, totalling $1,229.62. It loses $129.62; to break even the rate would need to be about $2.73 per loaded mile (vs $2.44 offered).
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate profit on a trucking load?+
Take total revenue (linehaul plus fuel surcharge and accessorials) and subtract fuel for all miles, your operating cost per mile times all miles, tolls and any load-specific fees like lumpers. Always include deadhead miles in the cost side.
What is a good rate per mile for a truck?+
It depends on your own costs. A good rate is comfortably above your break-even rate per mile, which is total cost per mile including fuel. Compare every load against your own break-even rather than an industry average, which changes with the freight market.
Should deadhead miles be included in rate per mile?+
Brokers quote rate per loaded mile, but your truck incurs cost on every mile. Dividing revenue by total miles, including deadhead, gives the all-in rate per mile — the better way to compare two loads with different deadhead.
What goes into operating cost per mile?+
Fixed costs (truck and trailer payments, insurance, permits, ELD and phone, overhead) spread over annual miles, plus variable costs like maintenance, tires and driver pay per mile. Fuel and tolls are entered separately in this calculator.
How much deadhead is acceptable?+
Many carriers try to keep deadhead below roughly 10%–15% of total miles. A load with high deadhead can still be worth it if it repositions the truck into a strong market for the next load.
Results are estimates for educational purposes and are not financial advice. Rates, fees and terms vary — confirm with your lender or a licensed advisor before making decisions.