Truck Load Rate Calculator
Calculate a cost-based truck freight quote using your own operating economics. Enter loaded miles, deadhead, all-in cost per mile, tolls and other trip expenses, factoring and dispatch fees, and your desired profit margin. Results include the break-even quote, target quote, rate per loaded mile, rate per total mile, estimated fees and expected operating profit.
Lane
Type the city and province/state separately. Selecting a city automatically fills its region.
Miles
Fuel and operating cost
Trip-specific costs
Fees and profit
What should I ask for this load?
These are cost-based estimates for your truck, not a live load-board market average. They change immediately when fuel price, MPG, empty miles, operating costs or profit target changes.
Fuel cost per mile is calculated from diesel price and truck MPG.
All-in cost per mile = fuel cost per mile + non-fuel operating cost per mile.
Total truck miles = loaded miles + empty miles.
Break-even rate covers operating costs plus entered percentage fees.
Target rate adds your selected profit margin.
Opening quote adds your negotiation buffer above the target rate.
How to use the Truck Load Rate Calculator
- Enter loaded miles for the revenue-producing portion of the trip.
- Add deadhead miles required to reach the pickup and any expected empty repositioning miles after delivery.
- Enter your all-in operating cost per mile or load the operating cost previously saved in the Truck Cost Per Mile Calculator.
- Add trip-specific expenses that are not already included in your cost per mile, such as tolls, scales, border costs, permits, lumper fees or reefer-related expenses.
- Enter factoring and dispatch percentages if those fees are charged against gross freight revenue.
- Enter your desired operating profit margin.
- The break-even quote estimates revenue required to cover entered costs and percentage fees without target profit.
- The target quote estimates the revenue required to cover those costs and still leave the selected profit margin.
- Compare rate per loaded mile with rate per total mile so deadhead is not hidden from the calculation.
Examples
800 loaded miles plus 100 deadhead miles
A load with 800 loaded miles and 100 deadhead miles requires the truck to run 900 total miles. At $1.80 operating cost per mile, distance-based cost alone is $1,620.
15% target margin
If total trip cost is $1,620 and there are no percentage fees, a 15% target margin requires about $1,905.88 of revenue because $1,620 ÷ 0.85 = $1,905.88.
Rate per loaded mile
A $2,400 quote over 800 loaded miles equals $3.00 per loaded mile.
Rate per total mile
If that same $2,400 load requires another 100 deadhead miles, revenue across 900 total miles is about $2.67 per total mile.
Factoring and dispatch fees
When both fees are based on gross freight revenue, they reduce the amount left to cover operating cost and profit. The calculator accounts for those percentages when calculating the required quote.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate what to charge for a truck load?
Start with the cost of every mile the truck will run, including deadhead. Add trip-specific expenses and percentage fees, then calculate enough revenue to reach your desired operating profit margin.
What is a freight rate per loaded mile?
It is gross freight revenue divided by the miles the truck travels while carrying the load.
What is rate per total mile?
It is gross freight revenue divided by all miles the truck runs for the load, including loaded and deadhead miles.
Why should deadhead be included in a freight quote?
Deadhead still consumes fuel, driver time and equipment capacity. If it is ignored, the loaded-mile rate can make an unprofitable load appear profitable.
What is a break-even freight quote?
It is the estimated revenue required to cover the operating costs, trip expenses and entered percentage fees without adding a target operating profit.
How is the target freight quote calculated?
The calculator divides trip cost by one minus the entered percentage fees and target profit margin. This assumes those percentage fees are charged against gross freight revenue.
Should I include factoring fees?
Include factoring when you expect the load invoice to be factored and the fee is not already included in your cost assumptions.
Should I include dispatch fees?
Include the dispatch percentage when an outside dispatcher receives a percentage of gross freight revenue. Avoid entering it again if it is already included elsewhere in your cost model.
Should I add fuel separately?
Not if your all-in operating cost per mile already includes fuel. Adding it again would double-count the same expense.
Does the calculator support reefer loads?
Yes. Select Reefer and enter any reefer fuel or other temperature-control expense that is not already included in your operating cost per mile.
Does equipment type automatically change the market rate?
No. Equipment is recorded for the quote and can affect the costs you enter, but this tool does not invent a market premium for dry van, reefer, flatbed or other equipment.
Does this calculate the current market rate from Montreal to Toronto or another lane?
No. Origin and destination are reference labels. This version calculates a carrier-specific cost and profit target and does not use live load-board or invoiced lane-rate data.
Is this the same as a Loadlink, DAT or Truckstop rate index?
No. Those types of market tools can use proprietary load, quote or invoice data. This calculator determines the rate required by the costs and assumptions you enter.
Can I use CAD or USD?
Yes. Select CAD or USD and keep all monetary inputs in the selected currency. The calculator does not automatically convert currencies.
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