Cost Per Mile Calculator for Trucking (CPM)

Monthly fixed costs

Truck/trailer payment ($/mo)

Insurance ($/mo)

Permits, licensing & ELD ($/mo)

Other fixed costs ($/mo)

Variable costs (per mile)

Fuel cost ($/mi)

From the fuel cost calculator, or your own number.

Maintenance & tires ($/mi)

Driver pay ($/mi)

0 if you are the only driver and count your own pay separately.

Miles per month

Your cost per mile

$0.00per mile, all-in

Fixed costs, monthly-

Fixed cost per mile-

Variable cost per mile-

Total operating cost, monthly-

Check a load's profit Find my break-even rate Rough estimate. Add your own numbers for an exact figure; costs vary by truck, lane and season.

How cost per mile is calculated

Split your costs into two groups. Fixed costs happen whether you drive 500 miles or 15,000 miles that month: your truck payment, insurance, permits and ELD subscription. Variable costs scale with miles driven: fuel, maintenance, tires and driver pay.

Fixed cost per mile = total monthly fixed costs ÷ miles driven that month
Variable cost per mile = fuel + maintenance + driver pay, all per mile
Cost per mile (CPM) = fixed cost per mile + variable cost per mile

Fixed cost per mile falls as you drive more miles in a month, since the same truck payment is spread over more miles. That is why a truck sitting idle costs more per mile than a truck running hard.

Frequently asked questions

What is cost per mile (CPM) in trucking?

Cost per mile is your total operating cost divided by miles driven: fixed costs (truck payment, insurance, permits) divided by monthly miles, plus variable costs (fuel, maintenance, driver pay) per mile. It is the number you compare against a load's rate per mile to see if it is worth running.

What is a good cost per mile for an owner-operator?

It depends heavily on the truck, lane and driver pay structure. Many owner-operators run somewhere between $1.50 and $2.00 all-in cost per mile. Use your own numbers in the calculator rather than a rule of thumb, since fuel, insurance and payment amounts vary widely.

Does cost per mile include driver pay?

It should if you want your true break-even rate. If you are an owner-operator driving your own truck, either include a driver-pay line for your own labor or track it separately and make sure you are not comparing rates against a number that ignores your own time.