Free tool
Truck Cost per Mile Calculator
This free truck cost per mile calculator adds up every cost of running a truck, fixed and variable, and divides it by the miles (or kilometres) it runs in a month. Use the result to set freight rates that actually make money.
Variable costs (rise with distance)
Fixed costs (paid even when parked)
The default figures are only an example for one heavy truck. Replace them with your own numbers for an accurate result.
How to use the cost per mile calculator
- Choose US units or metric, then enter the distance the truck runs in a month and its fuel economy.
- Fill in the variable costs: fuel, tolls, maintenance and tires.
- Fill in the fixed costs: driver wages, truck payment, insurance, permits and parking.
- Read the cost per mile or km and your break-even rate.
Why cost per mile decides whether a truck makes money
Freight is quoted per load, per mile or per ton, but costs are spent per mile and per month. A truck that sits idle for a week still pays its loan or lease, insurance and driver wages, so its fixed cost per mile goes up every day it does not run.
Knowing your true cost per mile tells you the lowest rate you can accept, which lanes lose money, and how much an extra 1,000 miles a month is worth. Fleet software keeps this figure live for every truck, using real trips and expenses instead of estimates.
Further reading: Total cost of ownership (Wikipedia)
Need this for your whole fleet?
See the real cost per mile and the profit on every trip, built from GPS distance and actual expenses. See our trip operations software.
Cost per Mile Calculator FAQs
How do I calculate the cost per mile of a truck?
Add all monthly costs (fuel, tolls, maintenance, tires, driver wages, truck payment, insurance, permits and parking) and divide by the miles the truck ran that month. Use kilometres instead for a cost per km.
What is a typical truck cost per mile?
It depends heavily on the truck, the loading, wages and the lanes you run. Use your own figures in the calculator; even small changes in monthly miles change the result a lot, because fixed costs are spread over fewer or more miles.
What is the difference between fixed and variable cost?
Variable costs (fuel, tolls, wear) rise with every mile. Fixed costs (truck payment, insurance, wages, permits) are paid whether the truck runs or not, so running more miles lowers them per mile.