Please enter valid numerical values for distance, rate, and weight.
Line Haul Cost:$0.00
Fuel Surcharge Cost:$0.00
Accessorials:$0.00
Total Estimated Cost:$0.00
All-In Rate Per Mile:$0.00
Cost Per Hundredweight (CWT):$0.00
function calculateFreightRate() {
var distance = parseFloat(document.getElementById('shippingDistance').value);
var rpm = parseFloat(document.getElementById('ratePerMile').value);
var weight = parseFloat(document.getElementById('shipmentWeight').value);
var fuelPercent = parseFloat(document.getElementById('fuelSurcharge').value);
var fees = parseFloat(document.getElementById('accessorialFees').value);
var errorDiv = document.getElementById('errorDisplay');
var resultDiv = document.getElementById('resultDisplay');
// Validate inputs
if (isNaN(distance) || isNaN(rpm) || isNaN(weight) || distance <= 0 || rpm 0) {
cwt = totalCost / (weight / 100);
}
// Update DOM
document.getElementById('lineHaulResult').textContent = '$' + lineHaul.toFixed(2).replace(/\B(?=(\d{3})+(?!\d))/g, ",");
document.getElementById('fuelCostResult').textContent = '$' + fuelCost.toFixed(2).replace(/\B(?=(\d{3})+(?!\d))/g, ",");
document.getElementById('accessorialsResult').textContent = '$' + fees.toFixed(2).replace(/\B(?=(\d{3})+(?!\d))/g, ",");
document.getElementById('totalCostResult').textContent = '$' + totalCost.toFixed(2).replace(/\B(?=(\d{3})+(?!\d))/g, ",");
document.getElementById('allInPerMile').textContent = '$' + allInRate.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('costPerCWT').textContent = '$' + cwt.toFixed(2);
resultDiv.style.display = 'block';
}
How to Calculate Transportation Rates
Calculating transportation rates accurately is essential for logistics managers, shippers, and owner-operators to ensure profitability and budget adherence. The cost of moving freight is rarely a flat fee; it is a composite calculation involving distance, weight, market conditions, and variable surcharges. This guide explains the mechanics behind transportation pricing models.
The Core Components of Freight Pricing
Most Full Truckload (FTL) and Less-than-Truckload (LTL) rates are built upon three primary pillars:
Line Haul: This is the base cost of moving the vehicle from point A to point B. It is typically calculated as Distance × Rate Per Mile (RPM).
Fuel Surcharge (FSC): To protect carriers from volatile fuel prices, a surcharge is added. This is usually a percentage applied to the line haul cost, based on the national average diesel price.
Accessorials: These are fees for extra services required beyond standard dock-to-dock driving. Common accessorials include detention time, lumper fees, lift gate service, or residential delivery.
The Calculation Formula
To manually estimate the total cost of a shipment, you can use the following logic, which matches the calculator above:
The "All-In Rate Per Mile" is the most common metric for comparing trucking costs. While the base rate might be $2.50, if you add fuel and fees, the "All-In" rate might jump to $3.10. Always clarify if a quote is "base" or "all-in."
Cost Per Hundredweight (CWT)
For LTL (Less-than-Truckload) shipping, carriers often price based on weight rather than just distance. CWT represents the cost to ship every 100 pounds of freight. This helps in comparing the efficiency of shipping denser loads versus lighter, voluminous cargo.
Factors Influencing Your Rate
Freight Class: In LTL shipping, density determines class (ranging from 50 to 500). Lower density items (taking up more space but weighing less) have higher classes and higher rates.
Lane Balance: A "Headhaul" lane (high demand outbound) costs more than a "Backhaul" lane (where a driver just wants to return home and will take lower rates).
Seasonality: Produce season or holiday retail rushes typically spike transportation rates due to tighter capacity.
Example Calculation
Let's assume you need to ship a 40,000 lb load from Chicago to Atlanta (approx. 720 miles).