Cost per mile calculator

Fixed costs for the period$Truck/trailer payment, insurance, permits, ELD, parking, base overhead.Variable costs for the period$Fuel, maintenance, tires, oil, tolls, DEF.Your own pay for the period$A wage for your driving and admin time. Leaving this at 0 understates CPM.Total miles run in the periodmilesLoaded plus deadhead. Do not use loaded miles only.

Cost per mile: $1.80/mi
Total operating cost: $54,000
Fixed cost + pay per mile: $1.13/mi
Variable cost per mile: $0.67/mi

The calculator needs JavaScript. Here is the worked example with the default values:

Fixed costs for the period	$30000
Variable costs for the period	$20000
Your own pay for the period	$4000
Total miles run in the period	30000 miles
Cost per mile	$1.80/mi
Total operating cost	$54,000
Fixed cost + pay per mile	$1.13/mi
Variable cost per mile	$0.67/mi

How it works

Cost per mile is total operating cost for a period divided by the miles run in that period. Add the fixed bucket, the variable bucket, and a wage for your own time, then divide by total miles — loaded plus deadhead.

Dividing by loaded miles only makes the number look better than it is. The honest denominator is every mile the wheels turned.

Assumptions

The period you enter costs for and the period you enter miles for are the same.
Total miles includes deadhead. Using loaded miles only produces a lower, misleading CPM.
Your own pay is a cost. A calculation that omits it understates what each mile must earn.
Fuel price and utilization move this number — recalculate when either changes.

Worked example

A truck runs 30,000 total miles in a quarter with $30,000 of fixed costs, $20,000 of variable costs, and $4,000 of owner pay. Total cost is $54,000, so cost per mile is $1.80. A load offered at $1.95 per mile all-in that needs 8% deadhead to start actually pays about $1.80 per total mile — right at breakeven.

FAQ

What period should I use?

A quarter is a good default — long enough to be representative, short enough to stay current. Recalculate when fuel moves sharply or you add a fixed cost.

Should I include deadhead miles?

Yes. Divide by total miles, loaded plus empty. Using loaded miles only gives a CPM that looks fine while you take loads that lose money after the repositioning.

Guides: Understanding cost per mile

Questions: How do I calculate cost per mile?, How do I price a load?

Terms: Cost Per Mile, Deadhead, Operating Ratio

In Trailflow: accounting and settlements.

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