Cost Per Mile Calculator
Your true all-in operating cost per mile — the one number that tells you whether a rate makes money or just makes miles.
Enter your costs and hit RUN MY NUMBERS
How cost per mile is calculated
fuel CPM = diesel price ÷ MPG
total CPM = fixed CPM + fuel CPM + maintenance CPM
Fixed costs — the truck payment, insurance, permits — hit whether you turn a wheel or not, so the fewer miles you run, the more each mile has to carry. Fuel is your biggest variable cost: at $3.85/gal and 6.5 MPG you're paying about 59 cents per mile just in diesel. Maintenance and tires run most operators 18–25 cents per mile once you average out the surprise repairs.
Recalculate monthly. A slow month or a fuel spike moves your break-even more than most drivers expect, and knowing the real number is the difference between negotiating and guessing. Once you have your cost per mile, check every load against it with the rate per mile calculator.
FAQ
What's an average cost per mile for an owner operator?
Most run $1.60–$2.20 all-in depending on fuel, payment, insurance, and monthly miles. But averages lie — your number can be 30% different. Run your own.
What's fixed vs variable?
Fixed hits every month regardless: payments, insurance, permits, parking, ELD. Variable scales with miles: fuel, maintenance, tires.
Why does fewer miles raise my cost per mile?
Fixed costs spread over fewer miles. A $2,500 payment is $0.25/mile at 10,000 miles but $0.50/mile at 5,000. Slow months quietly raise your break-even.
Should I include my own pay?
This tool computes operating cost. Add the salary you need to the fixed costs line if you want your break-even to include paying yourself — smart if you're comparing against company driver offers.