Fleet Cost per Mile Calculator
Cost per mile is the number every trucking decision hangs on. This adds up fuel, payments, insurance, maintenance, permits, and admin, divides by your miles, then shows what deadhead miles do to the effective cost per revenue mile.
Formula: CPM = total monthly operating costs ÷ total miles. Fuel = miles ÷ MPG × diesel price; maintenance = miles × $/mi; permits enter as 1/12 of annual. Effective CPM per revenue mile = total ÷ (miles × (1 − deadhead%)). Target rate = effective CPM × 1.5 (industry benchmark, Bobtail 2026 / ATRI data). Use: recalculate monthly and any time fuel, insurance, or your truck payment changes — small drifts across categories compound fast.
FAQ
What is the average cost per mile in 2026?
Owner-operator averages run $1.45-$1.85 per mile depending on truck type and routes: dry van $1.45-$1.70, reefer $1.65-$2.00, flatbed $1.50-$1.85, tanker $1.70-$2.10, hotshot $0.85-$1.30 (2026 benchmarks).
What is the biggest cost in trucking?
Fuel is the largest single cost at 35-40% of total. Truck payments and insurance are the biggest fixed costs — together the three make up 70-75% of most carriers' cost per mile.
Why does deadhead matter so much?
Empty miles cost fuel and time but earn nothing. If 25% of your miles are deadhead, your true cost per REVENUE mile is about 33% higher than your base CPM — always negotiate rates with deadhead included.
Figures are editable example defaults for planning, not rate quotes. Trucking costs and freight rates vary by region, lane, season, equipment, and negotiation — verify with current load boards, your insurance agent, and fuel receipts before committing to a rate.