Trucking Rate per Mile Calculator

A load offer looks different once you count the empty miles to reach it, the cut a dispatcher or factoring company takes, and what each mile costs you to run. This calculator turns the load pay into a rate per loaded mile and an all-in rate per total mile, then shows the profit on the trip and the lowest pay that still breaks even.

How to use this tool

1. Enter the total load pay, including any fuel surcharge.
2. Enter the loaded miles and the deadhead miles to reach the pickup.
3. Add accessorial pay such as detention or extra stops.
4. Enter the fee percentage taken by dispatch or factoring, and your operating cost per mile.

Formula

Rate per loaded mile = Gross pay ÷ Loaded miles

All-in rate = Gross pay ÷ (Loaded + Deadhead miles)

Profit = Gross pay × (1 − Fee %) − Cost per mile × Total miles

Break-even base pay = max(0, Cost per mile × Total miles ÷ (1 − Fee %) − Accessorial pay)

Load boards and brokers quote rates on loaded miles, but the truck burns fuel and time on every mile, so the all-in rate is the one to set against your cost per mile. The fee applies to both base and accessorial pay. Break-even base pay credits the accessorials already entered. Include accessorial expenses in operating costs as well; reimbursement alone is not profit.

Example

A load paying $2,800 for 1,000 loaded miles is $2.80 per loaded mile. With 120 deadhead miles the truck runs 1,120 miles, so the all-in rate is $2.50 per mile. A 3% factoring fee takes $84, leaving $2,716. At $1.90 per mile the trip costs $2,128, so the profit is $588, or 52.5 cents per mile. Any pay below $2,193.81 would lose money.