Per Mile Rate Calculator

Per Mile Rate Calculator

Monthly expenses that don't change regardless of miles driven.

Expenses that fluctuate based on how much you drive.

Total distance covered during the period (loaded + deadhead).

Your Operational Result

Total Monthly Cost

$0.00

Cost Per Mile

$0.00

function calculatePerMileRate() { var fixed = parseFloat(document.getElementById('fixedCosts').value); var variable = parseFloat(document.getElementById('variableCosts').value); var miles = parseFloat(document.getElementById('totalMiles').value); var resultDiv = document.getElementById('resultDisplay'); var expenseOutput = document.getElementById('totalExpenseOutput'); var rateOutput = document.getElementById('ratePerMileOutput'); if (isNaN(fixed) || isNaN(variable) || isNaN(miles) || miles <= 0) { alert("Please enter valid positive numbers for all fields. Miles must be greater than zero."); return; } var totalCost = fixed + variable; var perMileRate = totalCost / miles; expenseOutput.innerText = '$' + totalCost.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2}); rateOutput.innerText = '$' + perMileRate.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2}); resultDiv.style.display = 'block'; }

Understanding Your Per Mile Rate

For owner-operators and logistics companies, knowing your cost per mile is the foundation of a profitable business. Without this metric, you are essentially guessing when bidding on loads. The per mile rate represents the total cost of operating your equipment for every mile it travels on the road.

The Components of the Calculation

To get an accurate result from the per mile rate calculator, you must distinguish between two types of costs:

• Fixed Costs: These stay the same whether you drive 1 mile or 10,000 miles. Examples include truck payments, insurance premiums, permits, licensing fees, and health insurance.
• Variable Costs: These costs fluctuate based on your activity. This includes fuel (the largest variable expense), maintenance, tires, oil changes, and road tolls.

The Formula

(Total Fixed Costs + Total Variable Costs) / Total Miles Driven = Cost Per Mile

Example Calculation

Let's say a driver has the following monthly expenses:

• Fixed Costs: $2,500 (Truck payment + Insurance)
• Variable Costs: $4,000 (Fuel + Maintenance + Tolls)
• Total Miles: 8,000 miles

Using the calculator: ($2,500 + $4,000) / 8,000 = $0.81 per mile.

If this driver accepts a load paying $1.50 per mile, they are making a gross profit of $0.69 per mile. However, if they accept a load at $0.75 per mile, they are actually losing money on every mile driven.

Why This Metric Matters for SEO and Business Growth

Operating a fleet without tracking the per mile rate is like flying a plane without an altimeter. High fuel prices or sudden maintenance issues can quickly erode your margins. By using this calculator regularly—ideally at the end of every month—you can identify trends, reduce waste, and ensure your freight quotes are always competitive yet profitable.

Pro Tip: Don't Forget Deadhead Miles

Always include "deadhead" (empty) miles in your total mileage count. If you only calculate cost based on loaded miles, you will underestimate your actual expenses and overstate your profitability.