Trucking cost per mile calculator
Enter your monthly figures to find your true cost per mile and the rate you need to charge.
Your results
Estimate only, not financial, tax or legal advice. Check your own figures and contracts before relying on it.
How the calculation works
- Fixed cost per mile = (truck payment + insurance + permits + other fixed) ÷ miles.
- Fuel per mile = fuel price ÷ MPG.
- Cost per mile = fixed per mile + fuel + maintenance + tires + other + driver pay.
- Break-even rate = cost per mile.
- Target rate = cost per mile ÷ (1 − margin).
Once you know your cost per mile, check a specific load with the load profit calculator, which adds deadhead miles and fees.
Frequently asked questions
What is cost per mile in trucking?
Cost per mile (CPM) is your total operating cost divided by the miles you drove in the same period. It combines fixed costs (truck payment, insurance, permits) and variable costs (fuel, maintenance, tires).
What is a good cost per mile for an owner-operator?
It depends on your equipment, fuel price and how many miles you run. What matters is that the rate you accept is above your own break-even cost per mile plus the profit you need.
How do I calculate my break-even rate?
Your break-even rate per mile equals your total cost per mile. Any load paying less than that loses money, before you even count deadhead miles.
How is target profit margin calculated?
Margin is a share of revenue, not a markup on cost. The target rate is cost per mile divided by (1 minus margin), so a 10% margin on $1.20 cost needs $1.333 per mile.
Read the guide
How to Calculate Cost Per Mile as an Owner-Operator: Step-by-step guide to your trucking cost per mile, break-even rate and target rate, with a worked example and the mistakes that make the number wrong.