📋 The Load Offer
🚛 Your Operating Costs
Net Profit This Load
—
True Rate Per Mile
—/mi
—
—
💵 Full Cost Breakdown
📋 Gross load rate—
🤝 Broker fee—
⛽ Fuel cost (loaded miles)—
🔄 Deadhead fuel cost—
🔧 Variable costs (maint, tires, misc)—
🏢 Fixed cost allocation (per load)—
📦 Lumper / accessorial fees—
✅ Net profit—
Total Miles (w/ deadhead)
—
Deadhead %
—
Fuel Cost
—
Break-Even RPM
—
Profit Margin
—
Annualized (×52 loads)
—
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How to Evaluate a Load Offer the Right Way
Most owner-operators make load decisions based on rate per mile (RPM) alone — but RPM doesn't account for deadhead, broker fees, or how fixed costs are allocated per load. A $3.00/mile load that requires 200 miles of deadhead and a 10% broker fee may net less than a $2.50/mile load with direct pickup.
// True net calculation
After-fee rate = Gross rate × (1 − broker %)
Fuel cost = (loaded miles + deadhead) ÷ MPG × diesel price
Variable cost = total miles × cost per mile
Fixed allocation = weekly fixed costs ÷ loads per week
Net profit = After-fee rate − fuel − variable − fixed − lumper
After-fee rate = Gross rate × (1 − broker %)
Fuel cost = (loaded miles + deadhead) ÷ MPG × diesel price
Variable cost = total miles × cost per mile
Fixed allocation = weekly fixed costs ÷ loads per week
Net profit = After-fee rate − fuel − variable − fixed − lumper
What counts as fixed vs. variable costs?
| Fixed Costs (per week/month) | Variable Costs (per mile) |
|---|---|
| Truck payment / lease | Fuel (biggest variable) |
| Insurance (liability, cargo, physical damage) | Tire wear and replacement |
| Permits & authorities (IFTA, IRP) | Maintenance (oil, filters, belts) |
| ELD / software subscriptions | Repair accruals |
| Health insurance | DEF fluid |
| Accounting / bookkeeping | Loading / unloading supplies |
| Factoring fees (if used) | Tolls (sometimes fixed by route) |
Benchmark: What should my numbers look like?
| Metric | Struggling | Average | Profitable |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-in cost per mile | Over $2.20 | $1.85–2.20 | Under $1.85 |
| Rate per mile (gross) | Under $2.00 | $2.00–2.80 | Over $2.80 |
| Net profit per load | Under $200 | $300–600 | Over $700 |
| Deadhead percentage | Over 35% | 20–30% | Under 20% |
| Fuel as % of revenue | Over 35% | 25–32% | Under 25% |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good rate per mile for owner-operators in 2024?
In 2024, owner-operators generally need $2.50–3.50/mile gross to be profitable depending on their cost structure. After accounting for fuel (typically $0.55–0.65/mile at current diesel prices), maintenance, insurance, and fixed costs, the break-even for most operators is $1.85–2.20/mile. Anything above that is profit. Rates below $2.00/mile rarely pencil out unless you have unusually low costs or a fuel-efficient setup.
How much should I budget for fixed costs per week?
For a single owner-operator with a financed semi-truck, typical weekly fixed costs run $900–1,400. Breakdown: truck payment ~$500–700/week (annualized), insurance ~$150–250/week, permits and authorities ~$50/week, ELD and subscriptions ~$25/week, accounting ~$25/week. Paid-off trucks obviously have much lower fixed costs — a key advantage of owning free and clear.
Should I use a freight broker or go direct?
Direct shipper relationships pay 8–12% more per load (the broker margin you keep). But brokers provide volume and fill deadhead lanes that you couldn't fill direct. Most successful owner-operators have a mix — 1–2 direct shipper relationships for their home lanes, and load boards (DAT, Truckstop) to fill gaps. Building direct relationships takes time but the long-term economics are significantly better.
What is IFTA and how does it affect my costs?
IFTA (International Fuel Tax Agreement) is a fuel tax reporting program for commercial vehicles. You report fuel purchased and miles driven in each state quarterly, and pay (or receive) the net difference. It's not an extra tax — it's a reconciliation of taxes you already paid at the pump. The administrative burden is the real cost: you need accurate mileage records by state, which is why a good ELD is essential.