Free Tool · Cost Per Mile Calculator

Trucking Cost Per Mile Calculator

Estimate what it costs to operate your truck for each mile driven. Enter your current fixed expenses, variable expenses, and mileage to calculate an estimated cost per mile.

Trucking Cost Per Mile Calculator

Estimate monthly fixed costs, variable costs, fuel cost, operating cost per mile, cost per day, and break-even rate.

AMonthly Fixed Costs
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$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
BVariable Cost Assumptions
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mpg
$/mi
$/mi
$/mi
$/mi
CMonthly Mileage & Work Assumptions

Enter estimated monthly miles, or leave it blank to use loaded + deadhead miles.

mi
mi
mi
days

Your Results

Enter your numbers and tap Calculate to see your estimated cost per mile.

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How to use this calculator

Enter your monthly expenses and mileage in the fields below, then tap Calculate. Each section is explained here.

Section A — Monthly Fixed Costs

Enter the dollar amounts for costs that stay roughly the same each month regardless of mileage: truck payment, trailer payment, insurance, permits/plates/IRP/IFTA/authority, ELD/technology, accounting/bookkeeping, phone/communication, parking/storage, subscriptions/software, and any other fixed monthly costs.

Section B — Variable Cost Assumptions

Enter your diesel price per gallon, average MPG, maintenance cost per mile, tire cost per mile, DEF/fluids cost per mile, and any other variable cost per mile. These costs change with how many miles you drive.

Section C — Monthly Mileage & Work Assumptions

Enter your estimated monthly miles (optional — if left blank, the calculator uses loaded miles + deadhead miles), estimated loaded miles, estimated deadhead miles, and estimated working days per month.

What the results mean

  • Total Cost Per Mile: Your estimated total operating cost for every mile driven, combining fixed and variable costs.
  • Monthly fixed cost total: The sum of all Section A fixed costs.
  • Fuel cost per mile: Diesel price per gallon divided by your average MPG.
  • Variable cost per mile: Fuel cost per mile plus maintenance, tire, DEF, and other variable costs you entered.
  • Fixed cost per mile: Your monthly fixed costs divided by your monthly miles.
  • Total est. monthly operating cost: Total cost per mile multiplied by your monthly miles.
  • Cost per working day: Total monthly operating cost divided by your working days.
  • Break-even rate per loaded mile: The total monthly operating cost divided by your loaded miles — the rate you would need to earn per loaded mile just to break even.

How the calculation works

1. Monthly Fixed Costs = Truck payment + Trailer payment + Insurance + Permits/plates/IRP/IFTA/authority + ELD/technology + Accounting/bookkeeping + Phone/communication + Parking/storage + Subscriptions/software + Other fixed monthly costs.

2. Fuel Cost Per Mile = Diesel price per gallon ÷ Average MPG (calculated when MPG is greater than 0).

3. Monthly Miles = Your estimated monthly miles if entered. If left blank, the calculator uses loaded miles + deadhead miles.

4. Fixed Cost Per Mile = Monthly fixed costs ÷ Monthly miles.

5. Variable Cost Per Mile = Fuel cost per mile + Maintenance + Tire + DEF/fluids + Other variable costs.

6. Total Cost Per Mile = Fixed cost per mile + Variable cost per mile.

7. Total Estimated Monthly Operating Cost = Total cost per mile × Monthly miles.

8. Cost Per Working Day = Total monthly operating cost ÷ Working days (when working days are greater than 0).

9. Break-Even Rate Per Loaded Mile = Total monthly operating cost ÷ Loaded miles (when loaded miles are greater than 0).

Example calculation

This is a hypothetical example to show how the calculator works. It is not an industry average or a recommendation.

Entered values

  • Truck payment: $3,500
  • Insurance: $1,200
  • Permits, plates, IRP, IFTA, authority: $300
  • ELD / technology: $100
  • Other fixed monthly costs: $200
  • Diesel price per gallon: $4.00
  • Average MPG: 6.5
  • Maintenance cost per mile: $0.15
  • Tire cost per mile: $0.05
  • Estimated monthly miles: 8,000
  • Estimated loaded miles: 7,200
  • Estimated working days per month: 20

Results

  • Monthly fixed cost total: $5,300.00
  • Fuel cost per mile: $0.615
  • Variable cost per mile: $0.815
  • Fixed cost per mile: $0.663
  • Total cost per mile: $1.478
  • Total est. monthly operating cost: $11,824.00
  • Cost per working day: $591.20
  • Break-even rate per loaded mile: $1.642

Important limitations

This calculator provides an estimate based only on the information entered. Actual operating costs may differ because of fuel prices, equipment, financing, maintenance, insurance, taxes, tolls, routes, mileage, downtime, and other business conditions. Clear To Roll does not provide financial, tax, legal, accounting, safety, or regulatory advice.

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