Load Profitability Calculator
A rate looks good until deadhead and your true cost per mile eat it. This runs the actual numbers on a single load: revenue with fuel surcharge, cost across all miles, and the margin you keep.
Formula: revenue = loaded miles × (rate + fuel surcharge); cost = (loaded + deadhead miles) × your cost per mile; net = revenue − cost; margin = net ÷ revenue. Net-per-hour uses a rough 10 mph door-to-door average for schedule planning. Use: check every load against YOUR cost per mile (monthly recalculated), not the market's — and include deadhead, which is where most thin loads quietly turn negative.
FAQ
What margin should a load clear?
A common target is at least 15-30% margin over your cost per mile, with the 1.5x-CPM rate benchmark as a floor for steady freight. One-off cheap loads can bridge lanes — but never below your effective CPM.
Should I count deadhead on every load?
Yes. The truck has to reposition either way; the load that pays for its share of deadhead is the only one actually profitable. If a broker's rate ignores your deadhead, negotiate up or pass.
What is the 10 mph estimate?
Long-haul trucks average roughly 10 miles per hour of elapsed time once loading, unloading, breaks, and traffic are included. It turns net dollars into a rough hourly view for comparing loads.
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.