The Load Profitability Calculator evaluates one load in one direction.
This tool evaluates the full lane — outbound load + return/backhaul load + all deadhead — combined into one P&L. Use this when deciding whether a lane is worth running regularly, or whether a backhaul makes a weak outbound viable.
Need your deadhead cost in detail? Use the Canadian Deadhead / Empty Miles True Cost Calculator to price the true cost of running empty.
Tracking monthly business performance? Use the Canadian Owner-Operator Monthly P&L Estimator for your full monthly picture.
Need your minimum rate floor? Use the Canadian Owner-Operator Break-Even Rate Calculator to find the rate per loaded km you must beat.
How round-trip lane profitability is calculated
A single load tells you whether one leg makes money. A lane tells you whether the whole trip is worth it. The outbound load may pay well but require a long deadhead to get there. The backhaul may be cheap but enough to cover the cost of getting home. This calculator combines both legs — revenue, operating costs, fuel, and all deadhead — into one lane P&L in CAD so you can see the complete picture before committing to a lane.
Lane-level costs like the dispatcher fee and factoring fee are applied to the combined gross revenue from both legs, because that is how they are typically charged. The result cards show both the per-leg net contribution (how much each direction made or lost independently) and the full lane metrics (profit per loaded km, deadhead ratio, total gross). All figures come from the numbers you enter — nothing is hardcoded.
| Figure | Formula |
|---|---|
| Total gross revenue | outbound revenue + return revenue |
| Dispatcher fee (% mode) | total gross × dispatcher % ÷ 100 |
| Dispatcher fee ($ mode) | entered flat CAD amount |
| Factoring fee | total gross × factoring % ÷ 100 (if entered) |
| Total lane costs | outbound operating + outbound fuel + return operating + return fuel + dispatcher fee + factoring fee + other costs |
| Net lane profit | total gross − total lane costs |
| Lane margin | net lane profit ÷ total gross × 100 |
| Total loaded km | outbound loaded km + return loaded km |
| Total deadhead km | outbound deadhead + return deadhead |
| Total km | total loaded km + total deadhead km |
| Revenue / loaded km | total gross ÷ total loaded km |
| Cost / loaded km | total costs ÷ total loaded km |
| Profit / loaded km | net lane profit ÷ total loaded km |
| Profit / total km | net lane profit ÷ total km |
| Deadhead ratio | total deadhead ÷ total km × 100 |
| Outbound net (standalone) | outbound revenue − outbound operating − outbound fuel |
| Return net (standalone) | return revenue − return operating − return fuel |
The outbound and return net figures show each leg's contribution before lane-level costs. A backhaul that looks marginal on its own may still be the right move if it reduces deadhead and lowers the lane's overall cost per km. Conversely, a return leg that loses money on its own can drag a strong outbound into a loss lane once all costs are combined.
Frequently Asked Questions
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