Know your numbers before you move the load.
Use simple freight calculators to estimate operating cost, evaluate load profitability and understand your real revenue per mile.
What does every mile actually cost you?
Cost per mile helps an owner-operator understand how much the truck must earn just to cover operating expenses.
Why it matters
A load may have an attractive rate per mile, but that number means little if your own operating cost is unknown. Fuel, maintenance, insurance, truck payments and other expenses all affect the real cost of moving the truck.
Does the load still make sense after the costs?
Evaluate a load using rate, loaded miles, deadhead and your estimated operating cost.
Don't ignore deadhead
Unpaid miles still consume fuel, time and equipment. Including deadhead gives you a more realistic picture of the mileage involved in moving a load.
Loaded RPM is not always your real RPM.
Compare the advertised load RPM with effective RPM after including deadhead miles.
Why two RPM numbers?
Loaded RPM only measures the paid portion of the trip. Effective RPM spreads the same revenue across every mile needed to position and deliver the freight.
A calculator gives you a number. Your business determines what that number means.
There is no universal profitable RPM.
A rate that works for one truck may not work for another. Equipment payments, insurance, fuel economy, maintenance, driver compensation and operating region can all affect the minimum rate a carrier needs.
Use actual business expenses when possible.
These calculators are planning tools. For better estimates, replace the example values with your own business expenses and mileage records.
Look beyond the advertised rate.
Consider deadhead, loading time, appointment requirements, fuel consumption, tolls and the next available freight before deciding whether a load fits your operation.