About the Trucking Cost Per Mile Calculator
Your cost per mile (CPM) is the single most important number in a trucking business: every load you accept below it loses money. This calculator splits operating costs into fixed costs, which you pay whether the truck moves or not (truck and trailer payments, insurance, permits and registration, ELD, phone and accounting), and variable costs that rise with every mile (fuel, maintenance and repairs, tires, tolls and driver pay).
Enter your annual miles, monthly equipment payments, yearly fixed costs and per-mile variable costs. The calculator returns fixed, variable and total cost per mile, the annual operating cost, the cost per loaded mile after deadhead (empty) miles, and the minimum rate per loaded mile you need to hit your profit target.
It is built for owner-operators, small fleets and new authorities setting rates or checking load-board offers. Fuel cost per mile is fuel price divided by miles per gallon. Leave driver pay at zero if you are an owner-operator who takes profit rather than wages, or enter cents per mile for a company driver.
With the default inputs, the total cost per mile is $1.331. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the trucking cost per mile calculator
- 1Enter total miles per year and your typical deadhead percentage.
- 2Enter monthly truck and trailer payments and yearly insurance, permits and overhead.
- 3Enter diesel price and your average miles per gallon.
- 4Add maintenance, tires, tolls and any driver pay per mile.
- 5Set a target profit per loaded mile and read your minimum rate.
Formula and method
Fixed costs are converted to a yearly total (monthly payments × 12 plus yearly insurance, permits and other overhead) and divided by total miles driven, so fixed cost per mile falls as you run more miles. Variable costs are already per mile; fuel per mile is the diesel price divided by fuel economy. The total CPM is the sum of the two.
Because deadhead miles earn nothing, the cost per loaded mile divides the annual operating cost by the loaded miles only (total miles × (1 − deadhead %)). Adding your target profit per loaded mile gives the minimum rate to accept on a load board. Fuel surcharges, if paid separately, can be compared against the fuel cost per mile.
- CPM
- Total operating cost per mile
- MPG
- Miles per gallon of diesel
- Deadhead %
- Share of miles driven empty
Worked examples
Owner-operator running 110,000 miles a year
Fixed costs total $26,400 + $7,200 + $14,000 + $3,000 + $6,000 = $56,600, or $0.515 per mile over 110,000 miles. Fuel is $3.75 ÷ 6.5 = $0.577 per mile, and variable costs total $0.817. The CPM is $1.331, so with 12% deadhead each loaded mile costs $1.513 and the minimum rate for a $0.50 profit is about $2.01.
Small-fleet truck with a company driver
Fixed costs are $31,200 + $8,400 + $16,000 + $3,500 + $8,000 = $67,100, or $0.559 per mile. Variable costs including $0.65 driver pay and $0.557 fuel come to $1.487 per mile, for a CPM of $2.046. With 15% deadhead the cost per loaded mile is $2.407.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good cost per mile for trucking?+
It varies with equipment, region and whether driver pay is included. The American Transportation Research Institute’s annual Operational Costs of Trucking report has recently put average fleet marginal costs above $2 per mile including driver wages and benefits; owner-operators who exclude their own pay are usually lower. Your own numbers are what matter.
How do I calculate cost per mile?+
Add up all yearly costs — fixed and variable — and divide by total miles driven. Equivalently, divide yearly fixed costs by miles and add the per-mile variable costs such as fuel, maintenance and tires.
What are fixed costs in trucking?+
Fixed costs are paid regardless of miles: truck and trailer payments or lease, insurance, IRP plates, permits and heavy vehicle use tax, ELD and phone subscriptions, load board fees, accounting and parking.
Why does deadhead matter?+
Empty miles cost the same to drive but earn no revenue, so all costs must be recovered from loaded miles. At 12% deadhead, a $1.33 cost per mile becomes $1.51 per loaded mile.
How do I lower my cost per mile?+
Run more miles to spread fixed costs, improve fuel economy (slower speeds, less idling, aerodynamic devices, proper tire pressure), cut deadhead with better load planning, and keep up preventive maintenance to avoid expensive breakdowns.
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.