The tariff adjustment at which your modelled adjusted revenue equals your entered operating costs and net profit per load reaches zero. Based on your entered values only — not an official rate or customs determination.
Checking break-even rate per km? Use the Canadian Owner-Operator Break-Even Rate Calculator for the minimum rate across all your costs.
Modelling a domestic load? Use the Canadian Load Profitability Calculator for net profit, margin, and break-even rate on a domestic load.
How the tariff scenario model is calculated
This tool uses only the numbers you enter to model the effect of a tariff adjustment percentage on the profitability of a cross-border load in CAD. It does not embed any government or regulatory duty rate or trade policy guidance. All tariff adjustment percentages are labelled as your own scenario assumptions.
Base rate in CAD
If your load is priced in USD, the base rate in CAD is your entered USD rate multiplied by your entered FX rate (1 USD = your entered CAD value). If priced in CAD, the base rate is used directly. No live exchange rate is applied.
Tariff scenario adjustment Your Scenario Assumption
Your entered tariff adjustment percentage for each scenario is applied as a reduction to the base rate in CAD. This models the possible impact of a tariff environment that reduces the effective rate you receive on that lane. A 10% tariff adjustment in your scenario produces a modelled adjusted rate of 90% of your base rate. This is your own scenario assumption — not an official rate, customs determination, or compliance calculation.
Operating costs
Total operating cost per load is calculated from your fuel cost per km and your operating cost per km, each applied to your total km driven (loaded km + deadhead km). Costs remain the same across all scenarios — only the modelled revenue changes with each tariff assumption you enter.
Break-even tariff % Your Scenario Assumption
The break-even tariff % is the adjustment at which your modelled adjusted revenue equals your total operating costs and net profit reaches zero. Mathematically, it equals your base-scenario profit margin percentage. A higher base margin means a higher tariff would be required to push the lane into a modelled loss at your entered cost assumptions.
Volume reduction — contextual only
The volume reduction percentage you enter for each scenario is a planning reference — your assumption about how many fewer loads to expect under that scenario. It is displayed in the scenario card but does not affect the per-load profit calculation.
| Figure | Formula (your entered values only) |
|---|---|
| Base rate in CAD | if USD: entered rate × your entered FX rate; if CAD: entered rate directly |
| Total km driven | loaded km + deadhead km |
| Total cost per load | (fuel cost/km + operating cost/km) × total km driven |
| Adjusted revenue (Scenario A, B, or C) | base rate CAD × (1 − your tariff assumption % ÷ 100) |
| Net profit per load | adjusted revenue − total cost per load |
| Margin % | net profit ÷ adjusted revenue × 100 |
| Break-even tariff % | (1 − total cost ÷ base rate CAD) × 100 |
Important: All tariff adjustment percentages in this tool are your own scenario assumptions. This tool does not determine actual tariff liability, customs duty, HS code classification, or official trade obligations. Tariff rates, trade policies, and customs rules change frequently and vary by commodity, origin, and destination. Confirm actual obligations with a licensed customs broker, trade advisor, or qualified professional before making business decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Modelling cross-border tariff scenarios?
QuicklyFig is building Canadian trucking and freight tools. Free to calculate. Pro to save your tariff scenarios and lane profitability reports in your Owner-Operator Command.
Join the waitlist