How much does it cost to run a semi truck per mile?
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) found the industry-average cost to operate a truck in 2025 was $2.336 per mile, or $1.854 per mile excluding fuel. Your own cost depends on your truck payment, insurance, fuel, maintenance and how many miles you run, so calculate it yourself before accepting rates.
Before you accept any load, you need one number: what it costs you to move your truck one mile. Everything else, from rate negotiation to choosing lanes, depends on it.
The industry benchmark
The American Transportation Research Institute's Operational Costs of Trucking study found the industry-average cost to operate a truck in 2025 was $2.336 per mile, up 3.4% from the previous year and the highest in the report's history. Excluding fuel, the average was $1.854 per mile. Costs rose in every major category, with the biggest percentage jumps in tolls, repair and maintenance, driver benefits and tires.
Treat that as a benchmark, not your number. It covers fleets with company drivers and varying equipment. Yours depends on your own truck and lanes.
Fixed vs variable costs
| Fixed (per month) | Variable (per mile) |
|---|---|
| Truck and trailer payment | Fuel |
| Insurance | Maintenance and repairs |
| Permits, licensing, ELD | Tires |
| Accounting, software, misc. | Tolls, and driver pay if you employ drivers |
Fixed cost per mile = monthly fixed costs divided by miles driven. It falls as you run more miles. Variable cost per mile = fuel + maintenance + tires + other per-mile costs. Cost per mile (CPM) = fixed per mile + variable per mile.
Worked example
Say your fixed costs are $2,650 a month and you run 9,000 miles. Fixed cost is about $0.29 per mile. Add fuel at $0.65, maintenance and tires at $0.18, and driver pay or your own pay target at $0.55, for $1.38 variable. Your all-in cost is roughly $1.67 per mile.
Plug in your own numbers with the cost per mile calculator. Fuel is the most volatile line: see today's diesel price in your state and estimate trip fuel with the fuel cost calculator.
From cost per mile to a rate you can accept
- Work out your CPM.
- Add your profit target per mile.
- Compare against the load's rate per total mile, including deadhead, not just per loaded mile.
The load profitability calculator does this for any load, and the break-even calculator shows the miles you need each month to cover your costs.
Ways to bring your cost per mile down
- Cut deadhead. Empty miles burn fuel with no revenue. Plan your next load before this one delivers.
- Buy diesel smart. Prices can differ by more than $2 a gallon between states.
- Stay ahead of maintenance. A repair reserve avoids a surprise bill; use the maintenance budget calculator.
- Run enough miles to spread fixed costs, but only on loads that clear your CPM.
A dispatcher can help with the first and last: planning lanes to reduce empty miles and negotiating rates against your real numbers. See what dispatch costs.
Source: ATRI, Operational Costs of Trucking.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average cost per mile for a trucking company?
ATRI's Operational Costs of Trucking report put the 2025 industry average at $2.336 per mile, the highest in the report's history. That figure includes driver wages and benefits, so an owner-operator's own cost profile will differ.
What are the biggest expenses for an owner-operator?
Fuel, truck payment, insurance, maintenance and tires, and permits are typically the largest. Fuel varies day to day with diesel prices; the others are steadier.
How do I lower my cost per mile?
Cut deadhead miles, fuel where diesel is cheaper, keep tires and maintenance on schedule, and run enough miles to spread fixed costs. A higher-paying load only helps if it beats your cost per mile.
