What is a good rate per mile in trucking?
A good rate per mile is one that covers your total cost per mile, including deadhead, and leaves profit. As a rough guide in 2026, flatbed and step deck often pay about $5-7 a mile, reefer $4-6, hotshot $4-5, dry van and power only $3-5, and box trucks $1.80-3.20, depending on lane, season and market.
There is no single "good" rate. A rate is good if it covers your cost per mile with profit after deadhead. But you still need a sense of the market, so here are rough figures and a way to calculate your own line.
Rough rates per mile
These are rough estimates that shift with lane, season, fuel and market. Actual loads can be higher or lower, and no rate is guaranteed.
| Equipment | Rough rate per mile |
|---|---|
| Flatbed | $5.00 - $7.00 |
| Step deck | $5.00 - $7.00 |
| Reefer | $4.00 - $6.00 |
| Hotshot | $4.00 - $5.00 |
| Dry van | $3.00 - $5.00 |
| Power only | $3.00 - $5.00 |
| Box truck | $1.80 - $3.20 |
Dry van varies the most: short local and regional loads often pay more per mile because the load is short, while long OTR runs pay less per mile but more per load. See the full rate-per-mile guide.
Work out your own minimum rate
- Find your cost per mile. Add fixed costs (truck payment, insurance, permits) divided by miles, plus fuel, maintenance and driver pay per mile. The industry-wide average from ATRI was about $2.34 a mile in 2025, but yours will differ. Use the cost per mile calculator.
- Add deadhead. Empty miles to pickup are part of the trip. Use the deadhead miles calculator.
- Add profit. Decide what per-mile margin you need.
Example: CPM $1.67, profit target $0.40 per mile, so you need roughly $2.07 per total mile. If a load has 550 loaded and 80 deadhead miles, the total rate needed is 630 x $2.07 = about $1,304, or $2.37 per loaded mile.
Other things that change the true rate
- Fuel surcharge: included in the rate or paid separately?
- Detention and layover: are they paid, and after how many hours?
- Lumper and tolls: who covers them?
- Payment terms: a higher rate paid in 45 days may be worse than a lower one paid quickly. See freight factoring.
- Return freight: a great rate into a dead market can cost more in deadhead than it earns.
Spot vs contract
Spot rates move daily with supply and demand. Contract rates are steadier but may lag the market. Many owner-operators mix them, using contracts for a base and spot loads when the market is strong.
Check any load in seconds
Use the load profitability calculator to see net profit, margin, rate per loaded mile and rate per total mile, and the break-even calculator to see your monthly miles target.
Let someone negotiate for you
A dispatcher negotiates against your real numbers. Texas Solutions charges 5% of weekly gross for semis, 8% for hotshots and 10% for box trucks, OTR, with no flat rate, and you approve every load. Get a free estimate.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good rate per mile for a dry van?
Dry van rates commonly run about $3 to $5 a mile depending on lane and whether the run is local or OTR. Short local runs often pay more per mile; long OTR runs pay less per mile but more per load.
How do I calculate my minimum rate per mile?
Add your cost per mile (fixed plus variable costs divided by miles), any deadhead miles spread over the load, and your target profit per mile. Any rate above that is profitable.
Should I take a load below my rate to avoid deadhead?
Sometimes. If the alternative is driving empty to a better market, a lower-paying load that repositions you can beat deadhead. Compare total profit including deadhead using a load profitability calculator.
