📊 Cost Per Mile Calculator
Monthly Miles & Fixed Costs
Variable Costs
Fees & Pay
Your Cost Per Mile
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⚠️ Any load paying less than your minimum rate will cost you money. Update these numbers monthly as expenses change.
Know your true operating cost per mile so you never run a load at a loss.
⚠️ Any load paying less than your minimum rate will cost you money. Update these numbers monthly as expenses change.
Cost per mile (CPM) is the most important number in your trucking business. It tells you exactly what it costs to move your truck one mile — fuel, insurance, truck payment, maintenance, and everything else. Without knowing your CPM, you can't tell if any load is actually making you money.
Fixed costs stay the same every month regardless of miles — truck payment, insurance, permits, ELD. Variable costs change with mileage — fuel, tires, maintenance. Both must be in your CPM calculation.
The average total CPM for a solo owner operator in 2026 runs $1.65–$2.10 per mile. This means loads under $2.00/mile often leave very little profit after expenses — especially after dispatch fees, factoring, and deadhead miles are factored in. Know your number before you negotiate.