🚛 Fixed Costs (Monthly)
⛽ Variable Costs (Per Mile)
Total Cost Per Mile
—/mile
your true operating cost
Minimum Rate Per Mile
—/mile
cost + target profit
Fixed Cost/Mile
—
Fuel Cost/Mile
—
Variable (non-fuel)/Mile
—
Monthly Fixed Total
—
Monthly Revenue Needed
—
Annual Revenue Target
—
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Average Owner-Operator Cost Per Mile (2024)
| Cost Category | $/Mile Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel (diesel) | $0.50–0.70 | Biggest variable — based on 6–7 MPG at $3.50–4.00/gal |
| Truck payment | $0.15–0.30 | Amortized over typical monthly mileage |
| Insurance | $0.06–0.12 | Liability, cargo, physical damage combined |
| Maintenance & tires | $0.12–0.22 | Tires alone run $0.05–0.08/mile on semis |
| Permits & authorities | $0.01–0.03 | IFTA, IRP, MC authority annual fees |
| Other (ELD, health, accounting) | $0.05–0.10 | Fixed costs amortized per mile |
| Total average | $1.85–2.20 | Anything above this is profit |
How do I lower my cost per mile?
The biggest levers in order: (1) Fuel — improve MPG through speed discipline (65 mph vs 75 mph = 10–15% better MPG), route planning, and idle reduction. (2) Truck payment — a paid-off truck eliminates $500–800/month. (3) Tires — retreads for drives/trailers at a fraction of new tire cost. (4) Insurance — annual review and shopping reduces premiums. Most operators focus on revenue rather than costs; a $0.10/mile cost reduction on 100,000 miles/year = $10,000 straight to profit.