TruckProfitRate Per Mile Calculator
See your loaded rate per mile and your real all-in rate once deadhead miles are factored in, and check the result against your own minimum acceptable rate before you book.
Best for: drivers comparing a load board's quoted rate against what they'll actually earn once deadhead is factored in.
Enter your load details
Compared against the all-in rate (loaded + deadhead miles) to flag whether this load clears your minimum.
How this calculator works
The calculator divides load revenue by loaded miles to get your quoted rate, then divides the same revenue by loaded plus deadhead miles to get your all-in rate — the number that reflects every mile you actually drive for that load. If you enter a target rate, it compares your all-in rate against that target and shows the gap.
Worked example
A load pays $2,000 for 800 loaded miles, with 100 deadhead miles to reach pickup — 900 total miles. Loaded rate is $2.50/mile, but all-in rate is about $2.22/mile once deadhead is included, a loss of about $0.28/mile. If your target rate is $2.30/mile, this load falls just short of it once deadhead is accounted for, even though the quoted rate looked fine on its own.
How all-in rate falls as deadhead rises
Same $2,000 revenue and 800 loaded miles as the worked example above — only the deadhead miles change:
| Deadhead miles | Total miles | All-in rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 800 | $2.50/mile |
| 50 | 850 | $2.35/mile |
| 100 | 900 | $2.22/mile |
| 150 | 950 | $2.11/mile |
| 200 | 1,000 | $2.00/mile |
The loaded rate never changes ($2.50/mile) — only the all-in rate moves, because it's the same revenue spread over more total miles.
Understanding the inputs and outputs
- Rate per loaded mile is the rate most load boards and brokers quote — revenue divided by paid miles only.
- Rate per total mile divides the same revenue by every mile driven, including deadhead — a more honest measure of what a load actually pays you per mile of work.
- Target rate is optional and lets you set your own floor; the calculator flags whether the all-in rate clears it.
Common mistakes
- Comparing loads using only the quoted loaded rate and ignoring deadhead.
- Setting a target rate without first knowing your real operating cost per mile (see the Cost Per Mile Calculator).
- Treating a load that clears the loaded rate as automatically worth taking, without checking the all-in rate once repositioning miles are added.
Limitations
This tool only evaluates rate, not cost — a load can clear your target rate and still lose money once fuel and operating costs are considered. Pair it with the Load Profit or Break-Even Rate calculators for a full profitability check, not just a rate check.
Frequently asked questions
- What's the difference between loaded rate and all-in rate?
- Loaded rate divides load revenue by loaded (paid) miles only — it's the rate a load is usually quoted at. All-in rate divides the same revenue by loaded plus deadhead miles, showing what you actually earn per mile driven. All-in rate is always equal to or lower than loaded rate whenever there's deadhead.
- Why does deadhead lower my effective rate?
- Deadhead miles cost fuel and time but don't generate revenue. Spreading the same load revenue over more total miles driven brings the effective per-mile rate down, even though the quoted loaded rate hasn't changed.
- How should I set my target rate per mile?
- Your target should cover your operating cost per mile (fuel, truck payment, insurance, maintenance) plus the margin you want to earn. Use the Cost Per Mile Calculator to find your real operating cost, then set a target above that.
- Does this calculator account for fuel or other operating costs?
- No — this tool focuses purely on rate per mile from revenue and miles. For a full profit picture that includes fuel, operating cost, and fees, use the Load Profit Calculator. For the minimum rate needed to cover your costs, use the Break-Even Rate Calculator.
For how deadhead compounds across a week or month of loads, not just one trip, see How Deadhead Miles Quietly Erode Load Profitability.
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Related calculators
Load Profit Calculator
Find out if a specific load is worth taking by calculating true profit after fuel, deadhead, and operating costs.
Break-Even Rate Calculator
Find the minimum rate you need to charge to avoid losing money on a load.
Deadhead Cost Calculator
See the real fuel and operating cost of empty miles before you accept a load.
Suggested after using Rate Per Mile Calculator