Free tool
Work out your real cost per mile
Most owner-operators quote a cost per mile that ignores deadhead, and then wonder why the year didn't add up. Enter your monthly figures — the defaults are illustrative only.
Fixed costs — per month
Variable & miles
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Your numbers
Why loaded miles, not total miles
Brokers pay you for loaded miles. Your costs run on every mile, loaded or empty. A carrier running 12% deadhead who calculates cost against total miles is understating their real cost per paid mile by roughly the same 12% — which is often the entire margin.
Answers
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate cost per mile for a truck?
Add your monthly fixed costs (truck and trailer payment, insurance, permits, compliance) to your variable costs (fuel, maintenance, tyres) and your own pay, then divide by your LOADED miles for the month — not total miles. Dividing by total miles understates your real cost per paid mile by roughly your deadhead percentage.
What is a good cost per mile for an owner-operator?
It varies enormously with equipment, truck payment, insurance and how many miles you run, so any single figure quoted as a benchmark is close to meaningless. What matters is your number, calculated honestly, and whether the rates you're accepting clear it with margin.
Why does deadhead matter so much?
Because brokers pay you for loaded miles while your costs run on every mile you turn. A carrier running 12% deadhead who calculates cost against total miles is understating cost per paid mile by about 12% — which for many operators is the entire margin.
Want us to run these numbers with you?
Send four settlement statements and we'll show you what those weeks would have cost and grossed with us. No sales call required.